Link Between Obesity and Neoplasm Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Recent research has established a connection between obesity and the risk of developing subsequent neoplasms in survivors of childhood cancer. The study, published in JAMA Oncology, highlights the influence of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity on long-term health outcomes for these individuals.

The investigation, led by a team from Northwell in New Hyde Park, New York, focused on childhood cancer survivors diagnosed before the age of 21 between 1970 and 1999. The cohort consisted of 22,716 participants who provided BMI data prior to the onset of any subsequent neoplasms. The researchers tracked these individuals until September 2019, during which they identified 2,554 cases of subsequent neoplasms among 2,156 survivors, with a median age of 37.4 years at diagnosis.

The findings revealed that those reporting lower levels of physical activity had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of subsequent neoplasms over a 30-year period, with an incidence rate of 18.6% for those engaging in no metabolic equivalent hours (MET-h/wk) compared to 10.9% for those who participated in 15 to 21 MET-h/wk. Furthermore, individuals classified as obese demonstrated increased rates of solid organ, central nervous system (CNS), and skin neoplasms, with relative rates of 1.22, 1.47, and 1.30, respectively.

Conversely, a protective effect was observed in those with higher physical activity levels (15 to 21 MET-h/wk), which correlated with lower incidence rates of various subsequent neoplasms, including solid organ, CNS, and skin cancers, with relative rates of 0.61, 0.65, 0.50, and 0.72, respectively. Specific associations were also noted between BMI and physical activity with subsequent meningiomas and thyroid carcinomas; however, no significant links were established with breast or colorectal cancers or hematologic neoplasms.

The authors concluded that the study's results indicate that both BMI and physical activity play crucial roles in influencing the risk of developing subsequent neoplasms long after cancer treatment has concluded. As the understanding of these factors grows, it may lead to improved health strategies for childhood cancer survivors, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and an active lifestyle.