Work

Preventable fractions of cancer incidence attributable to 7-years weight gain in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) study

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: There is a lack of tangible measures for directed public health action to halt the increase in weight and cancer. We estimated the fraction and preventable cases of all and major body fatness-related cancers attributable to 7-years weight gain (≥ 2 kg). We assessed validated self-reported anthropometrics from 44,114 women aged 34-49 years at the enrolment in 1991-1992 and from a second questionnaire in 1998, with follow-up through December 31, 2015. Over 18 years, 3216 body fatness-related cancers and 2041 deaths were reported. Nearly 70% of women experienced weight gain and the average weight change was 4 kg. We observed a substantial proportional impact of weight gain on pancreatic cancer with a population attributable fraction (PAF) of 41.8% (95% CI 8.1-63.1) and a high absolute impact on postmenopausal breast cancer with 4403 preventable cases (95% CI 1064-7299) and a PAF of 16.8% (95% CI 4.1-27.8), and colorectal cancer with 3857 preventable cases (95% CI 1313-5990) and a PAF of 22.6% (95% CI 7.7-35.1). Avoiding weight gain over seven years in middle adulthood could have prevented a considerable proportion of the cancer burden and thousands of cancer cases in women in Norway.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83027-0

Authors: Marisa da Silva, Maarit A. Laaksonen, Lauren Lissner, Elisabete Weiderpass, Charlotta Rylander

Institutions: UiT The Arctic University of Norway, UNSW Sydney, Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of Gothenburg, Centre international de recherche sur le cancer

Language: English

Topic: Cancer Risks and Factors

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,990