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High BMI and waist circumference associated with increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer

  • Research

A study of almost 150,000 men from 8 European countries, presented at this year’s European Obesity Summit (Gothenburg, 1-4 June) shows that higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference are associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

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This analysis of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) is by Dr Aurora Pérez-Cornago, Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues.

To date, evidence on the association of body size and adiposity with prostate cancer risk is not clear. In this study, the authors investigated the associations between various body measurements at baseline, mainly BMI and waist circumference, and the risk of prostate cancer incidence, with a focus on tumour stage and grade, and on mortality from prostate cancer. A total of 141,896 men in 8 European countries (Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark) from the EPIC cohort were included. Data were adjusted for education level, smoking, marital status, diabetes and physical activity.

Read more (Nuffield Department of Population Health)