A new study from Lund University in Malmö, Sweden, revealed that waist circumference is a stronger risk indicator for obesity-related cancers in men than Body Mass Index (BMI). The research analyzed health data from 339,190 individuals between 1981 and 2019, tracking the relationship between BMI, waist circumference, and the risk of developing certain cancers.
According to Fox News, the study found that for men, an 11-centimeter increase in waist circumference was associated with a 25% higher risk of obesity-related cancers. "In men, an increase of 1 standard deviation (10.8 cm) in waist circumference was associated with a 25% increase in the risk of obesity-related cancers," the researchers reported. They noted that "BMI is a measure of body size but does not provide information on fat distribution, whereas waist circumference is a proxy more closely related to abdominal adiposity."
The researchers explained that men are more likely to store fat viscerally, around the abdominal organs, which is metabolically active and linked to adverse health outcomes. "This distinction is crucial because visceral fat, which accumulates around the abdominal organs, is more metabolically active and has been implicated in adverse health outcomes, including insulin resistance, inflammation, and abnormal blood fat levels," they wrote, as reported by Fox News.
In contrast, the association between waist circumference and cancer risk was weaker and similar for women when compared to BMI. "In women, the associations between waist circumference and BMI were weaker and similar," the study stated. This suggests that fat distribution plays a role in cancer risk, with waist circumference being a more critical measure for men.
"BMI is a good indicator of obesity, but is not the only one," said Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, who was not involved in the study. "It is not surprising that waist circumference in men could be a more precise indicator if measured properly because belly fat contains a lot of the inflammatory chemicals that act as carcinogens," he noted.
"While women accumulate more subcutaneous fat—on the hips, thighs, and buttocks—men pack it around the waist, deep inside the abdomen," said Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, to Fox News. "This is visceral fat, and it's metabolically toxic. It's not just sitting there. It's active, like a gland, secreting inflammatory chemicals (cytokines), raising insulin levels, disrupting hormones, and laying the groundwork for cancer cell growth."
The study tracked participants over an average of 14 years, during which 18,185 cases of obesity-related cancers were recorded, including esophageal, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, breast, and gallbladder cancers. Cancer diagnoses were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Register.
The researchers emphasized that individuals with similar BMIs might have different cancer risks depending on where their fat is stored. "Two people with the same BMI could have different cancer risks depending on where their fat is stored, highlighting the importance of fat distribution in assessing cancer risk," they noted.
Experts are calling for a reevaluation of how obesity is assessed, suggesting a move beyond BMI to incorporate waist circumference and other measures. Some argue that BMI leads to overdiagnosis of obesity and are calling for a "radical overhaul" in how it is assessed and treated. "BMI doesn't factor in muscle mass," Dr. Osborn pointed out, noting that a muscular individual might be misclassified as overweight or obese.
The researchers suggest that incorporating hip circumference into risk models may provide further insights, especially for women. "Including hip circumference into risk models may provide further insights into the sex difference and enhance the association between waist circumference and cancer, particularly for women—this is because, especially in women, the combination of waist circumference and hip circumference gives a better estimation of visceral fat than waist circumference alone," they wrote.
Obesity has long been established as a risk factor for cancer, particularly when fat is stored in certain areas of the body. Fat around the midsection, which stresses vital organs, leads to an increased risk of diseases that could cause premature death.
The findings will be presented at the upcoming European Congress on Obesity, to be held in Malaga, Spain, and will be published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Osborn advised men to monitor their waistlines as a proactive measure. "Anything above 40 inches (102 cm) is a red flag," he said. He emphasized the importance of lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risk. "Eat like your life depends on it—because it does. Stop feeding your cancer risk," he urged.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.