Obesity increases vulnerability to cancer, say UAE doctors

A recent study in British medical journal The Lancet dound that being obese, or having a body-mass index of 30kg/m2, increases the risk of being diagnosed with 22 different kinds of cancers.

Andre Rizk, consultant medical Oncology, Hematology, Chief of medical Oncology, Gulf International Cancer Centre, talks about the link between obesity and cancer at Gulf International Cancer Centre inShow more

ABU DHABI // Obese people should be aware that they are more vulnerable to cancer, health experts say.

A recent study in The Lancet, a British medical journal, found that obese people — those who have a body-mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 — increases their risk of falling victim to one or a combination of 22 types of cancer.

Dr Abdelrahman Nimeri said he had to deal with many cases of obese people suffering from cancer. He is the director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi.

“I have seen this link for myself in the UAE,” said Dr Nimeri. “Three of my patients who were morbidly obese suffered from colon cancer.”

He was part of a study in the UAE this year that found that obese young people were at serious risk of developing cancer.

“Most of my patients come to me because they are unhappy with the way they look and not because they are worried about the impact of obesity on their health,” he said.

“However, when I offer my patient surgery, I am doing it because his health requires it.”

There is insufficient awareness about the links between obesity and cancer, according to Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, the secretary general of the Friends of Cancer Patients society.

She is also involved in the Pink Caravan breast cancer awareness campaign.

“Although people are aware that obesity has adverse health consequences, it is mostly seen as negatively affecting physical appearance,” she said. “I believe too few people realise that without proper diet and exercise they put themselves at risk of many types of cancer, and premature illness or death.”

She said although doctors were aware that obese people were prone to cancer, there had been no scientific evidence to confirm the link until recently.

“The new research — such as work by the World Health Organisation and the study in The Lancet — clearly demonstrates the links between obesity and many different types of cancer,” said Dr Al Madhi.

“And it is providing extremely valuable new data that we will be able to use as we work with people here in the UAE.”

Dr Andre Rizk, the chief of medical oncology at Gulf International Cancer Centre in Abu Dhabi, hoped the new evidence would convince obese people to change their lifestyles.

“Globally we need people to understand the link between obesity and cancer and to talk about it,” he said.

“We should not restrict it to cancer, but also include other aspects such as the psychological effect of being obese.

“The higher the body mass index of a person, the higher the risk of cancer is in general and in certain site-specific cancers.

“The risk starts at a lower BMI in women, compared with men. Even children who are obese need to be careful, as they are at a higher risk of getting cancer if the obesity continues into adulthood.

“If people lose weight, the risk of cancer decreases. Governments, non-governmental organisations and medical professionals need to address the obesity concern. Our attitude towards food needs to change. People need to understand that exercise makes a difference.”

Dr Rizk said the schoolchildren should be made aware about that and should be encouraged to exercise and eat sensibly.

The Lancet study examined 5.2 million people who had not had cancer over a seven-and-a-half-year period.

Study subjects who were obese were especially prone to cancers of the gallbladder, kidney, colon, cervix, thyroid, ovary, breast and rectum.