High BMI a risk for ovarian cancer

HONG KONG – Scientists have for the first time linked ovarian cancer – the most deadly gynaecological cancer in Hong Kong – with a high body mass index (BMI), the World Cancer Research Fund International said on Tuesday.

WCRF International, a global network of charities dedicated to the prevention of cancer, announced the finding after researchers working on the organisation’s Continuous Update Project (CUP) discovered the link between body weight and Hong Kong’s sixth most common cancer among women.
The ovarian cancer review analysed 25 studies involving 4 million women, 16,000 of whom developed ovarian cancer. The studies showed there is a dose-response of a 6% increased risk of developing ovarian cancer for every five extra BMI units.

The WCRF International CUP project is the largest ongoing review of cancer prevention from around the world. It provides up-to-date evidence on how people can reduce their cancer risk through food, nutrition, physical activity and body fatness; ensuring WCRF International’s Recommendations for Cancer Prevention are based on the latest evidence.

Dr Rachel Thompson, head of Research Interpretation, said knowing that being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer means women actively reduce their risk factors. 
“This means that women can make lifestyle changes to reduce their chances of getting ovarian cancer. Previously we only knew about risk factors that are fixed, such as age and family history of the disease, but now we can say that keeping to a healthy weight helps reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer,” Dr Thompson said.

There are around 520 cases of ovarian cancer in Hong Kong with a steadily increasing incidence rate of 1.4% every year and around 180 deaths from the disease. The  five-year survival rates are more than 90% if diagnosed early but when caught in the late stage of the disease survival rates are lower than 20 per cent.
Other seven cancer types that linked to overweight and obesity are: colorectal, oesophageal, pancreatic, endometrial (womb), kidney, gall bladder and post-menopausal breast cancers.
Patricia Chiu, manager, Health Information and Education of World Cancer Research Fund Hong Kong (WCRF HK), said: “In Hong Kong, 37% of adults (28% of women) are overweight or obese, placing them at an increased risk of developing one of eight cancers. It is estimated that one in six cases – a total of 1,800 cases – could be prevented in HK every year if everyone was a healthy weight (a BMI of between 18.5 and 23). World Cancer Research Fund Hong Kong recommends checking your BMI regularly to see if you are a healthy weight.”

The CUP monitors and analyses research on cancer prevention and draws conclusions on how lifestyle factors such as weight, diet and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing cancer.
“These latest findings from the Continuous Update Project show how important body weight is for an increasing number of cancers affecting both men and women. This is just one example of how this resource, the largest of its kind in the world, is helping define public health advice to all of us on how we can reduce our risk of cancer,” Ms Chiu said.
A panel of independent experts assesses if the scientific evidence has changed and if this impacts on the 10 Recommendations for Cancer PreventionNike