Aggressive prostate cancer risk increases with high BMI, waist circumference

An increased risk for aggressive prostate cancer was found among men with a higher BMI and waist circumference compared with those with lower BMI and waist circumference, according to study findings presented at the European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Aurora Perez-Cornago, MSc, PhD, of the cancer epidemiology unit, Nuffield department of population health at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and colleagues evaluated data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study on 142,239 men to determine the links between anthropometric factors at baseline (height, BMI and waist circumference) and the risk for prostate cancer and prostate cancer death. Follow-up was an average of 14 years.

Overall, there were 7,022 incident cases of prostate cancer; 934 cases were fatal.

The risk for high-grade prostate cancer increased by 10% for every 5 kg/m² increase in BMI and by 13% for every 10-cm increase in waist circumference.

The risk for fatal prostate cancer increased by 14% for every 5 kg/m² increase in BMI and by 18% for every 10-cm increase in waist circumference.

“Men should try to maintain a healthy weight, and those who are obese should try to lose weight to reduce their risk,” Perez-Cornago told Endocrine Today. “Now it is needed to look at the possible mechanisms, such as metabolic and hormonal factors, that might be involved in this association.” – by Amber Cox

Reference:

Perez-Cornago, et al. PO1.077. Presented at: European Obesity Summit; June 1-4, 2016; Gothenburg, Sweden.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.