Between 2007 and 2021, the rate of cancers linked to obesity in China surged by a concerning 3.6% annually, while rates of cancers not associated with obesity remained steady, according to a comprehensive study released on August 22 in the Med journal by Cell Press. This trend is especially significant among the youth, underscoring an urgent necessity for enhanced public health strategies to combat the rising obesity and overweight issues in the country.
“If we don’t make significant changes to the obesity epidemic, the incidence of obesity-related cancers will surely keep increasing,” warns Jin-Kui Yang, the lead author of the study and an endocrinologist at Capital Medical University in Beijing. “This will create a major strain on China’s healthcare system and economy.”
Cancer remains one of the top causes of death in China, with lung cancer being the most prevalent type. However, cancers linked to obesity—including colorectal, breast, and thyroid cancers—are rapidly on the rise. Past research indicates that soon, obesity may surpass smoking as the leading preventable risk factor for cancer.
“Rates of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and teenagers are nearing those of the United States, despite years of public health campaigns aimed primarily at raising awareness,” says Yang. “Current strategies have proven ineffective. We urgently need to implement more impactful and robust solutions, potentially involving medications and calorie labeling, to tackle obesity in the country.”
Yang and his colleagues examined newly diagnosed cancer cases in China from 2007 to 2021. During this time, over 651,000 cancer cases were reported, with around 48% classified among the 12 obesity-related cancers identified by the World Health Organization.
Remarkably, the incidence of obesity-related cancers grew by 3.6% each year from 2007 to 2021, while non-obesity-related cancers, like lung and bladder cancers, showed stable figures. Furthermore, the researchers noted that obesity-related cancer rates were climbing more rapidly among younger age groups. For individuals between 60 and 65, these rates rose by less than 1.6% annually, whereas those aged 25 to 29 experienced an increase of over 15% per year. Additionally, people born between 1997 and 2001 were 25 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of obesity-related cancers compared to those born between 1962 and 1966.
The most rapidly growing obesity-related cancers among young people included colorectal, breast, thyroid, kidney, and uterine cancers.
“This trend aligns with the rising obesity and overweight rates seen in the youth of China,” Yang points out.
A shift towards a more Westernized lifestyle, which includes higher consumption of meat and alcohol, has played a role in the increasing obesity prevalence in China. As of 2019, 34% of Chinese adults were classified as overweight, and 16% were deemed obese. This situation is particularly alarming among children and adolescents, who are witnessing even sharper rises in overweight and obesity rates.
The research team warns that without decisive public health interventions, the rates of obesity-related cancers in China could potentially double within the next ten years.
