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Groundbreaking new research is warning of a rise in incidence worldwide obesity related cancer between young and older adult populations.
The study, published in History of internal medicine, Overturns previous assumptions that some deadly diseases primarily affect the young adultsinfluencer a shift To understand cancer in the 21st century.
Researchers including those from Imperial College London assessed two decades cancer Patient data to show this obesity induced carcinogenesis Affected people across global regions and age groups.
The study examined annual cancer incidence data from 2003 to 2017, collected through the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN database from 42 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australia.
Researchers analyzed data on 13 cancer types identified in earlier studies as increasing in young adults. leukemiaColorectal, stomach, breast, prostate, endometrial, gall bladder, kidney, liver, esophageal, oral, pancreatic and thyroid cancers. They then divided the patient groups into younger adults (20-49 years old) and older adults (50 and older).
This approach enabled researchers to provide focused insights into age-related cancer patterns, which led to unexpected findings. Contrary to previous beliefs that certain cancers were isolated to young people, the research showed that six types of cancer – leukemia, thyroid, breast, endometrial, colorectal and kidney – are increasing in young and older adults in almost three-quarters of the countries surveyed.
These cancers are largely linked to obesityThe effects have been shown to be widespread across adulthood, rather than limited to specific age groups, the researchers cautioned. Previous studies had established a link between obesity and cancer.
Scientists say increased accumulation of fat tissue can cause inflammation throughout the body, alter hormone levels, disrupt cell metabolism and promote a pro-cancer environment.
Uterine and kidney cancers showed the strongest association with obesity in the study, highlighting how fat tissue serves not only as an energy store but also as a center of hormone production.
Researchers say that when someone’s hormone secretion profile is irregular, it can hinder increased cell proliferation and removal of dead cells, increasing the risk of tumors.
Specifically, the study found declines in liver, oral, esophagus, and stomach cancer rates in the younger demographic, likely due to successful public health interventions targeting tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and viral hepatitis.
On the other hand, rates of bowel cancer in young adults are increasing at a faster rate than their older counterparts. The scientists said this may be due to increased screening and early detection efforts in older adults, while younger people may potentially be exposed to new carcinogens through their environment or diet.
The researchers said the new findings highlight the need for further research to determine the causes of cancer subtypes in different age groups.
“These findings may help inform future research and clinical and public health guidelines,” they wrote.