How many cancer patients in England had a history of obesity?

More than half of individuals starting cancer treatment in England had a history of obesity.

Does lifetime obesity prevalence exceed 50% in all cancer types?

Yes, lifetime obesity prevalence exceeded 50% in every one of the 13 cancer types studied.

Why is a patient's obesity history important for cancer care?

A patient's history of obesity may help build a fuller picture of their health than BMI at treatment start alone, which can inform clinical decision-making and personalized care.

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Obesity History Key in Cancer Treatment

27 Apr

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Summary

More than half of cancer patients had past obesity.
Lifetime obesity prevalence exceeded 50% for all cancers studied.
Past BMI offers a fuller health picture than current weight.

A significant real-world study in England found that more than half of patients commencing cancer treatments like chemotherapy had a history of obesity, despite only about a quarter being obese at the start of their treatment. This extensive research, analyzing over 79,000 patients across 13 cancer types, revealed that considering historical Body Mass Index (BMI) dramatically increases the apparent prevalence of obesity.

The findings, published in ESMO Real World Data and Digital Oncology, indicate that lifetime obesity prevalence exceeded 50% in every cancer type studied. For instance, pancreatic cancer, which often involves reduced dietary intake, showed only 13.7% obesity at treatment start but a lifetime prevalence of 55.8%. This highlights that current weight alone is insufficient for a complete health assessment.