Summary of Evidence: Overweight and Obesity Are Both Associated With Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Incidence
Douglas K. Rex, MD, MASGE, reviewing Li H, et al. Am J Gastroenterol 2021 Jul 23.
Intense ongoing investigation has suggested a number of risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), defined as CRC in persons younger than aged 50 years and which is increasing in incidence in many countries. One of these risk factors is body mass index (BMI).
In a systematic review and meta-analysis, the relative risk of EOCRC was 1.32 for BMI classified as overweight (25-30 kg/m2) and 1.88 for BMI categorized as obese (>30 kg/m2). All studies that looked at BMI in late adolescence found a positive association with EOCRC risk.
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COMMENTObesity is also associated with late-onset CRC. These data suggest that the need to emphasize normal body weight to prevent EOCRC should begin in childhood.
Note to readers: At the time we reviewed this paper, its publisher noted that it was not in final form and that subsequent changes might be made.
CITATION(S)
Li H, Boakye D, Chen X, Hoffmeister M, Brenner H. Association of body mass index with risk of early-onset colorectal cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol 2021 Jul 23. (Epub ahead of print) (https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000001393)