Latest news with #FaizanAhmed
Medscape
20 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Obesity-Related Cancer Deaths More Than Triple
Cancer deaths related to obesity have risen sharply over the past two decades, especially among older adults, women, non-Hispanic Black individuals and people living with obesity in rural areas, a US study found. 'Obesity is a well-known risk factor for various cancers, but its contribution to cancer-specific mortality over time hasn't been systematically quantified at a national level,' lead investigator Faizan Ahmed, MD, with Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune City, New Jersey, told Medscape Medical News. 'Clinicians should recognize obesity not just as a cardiovascular or metabolic risk factor but as a significant oncologic concern,' Ahmed said. He presented his research on July 13 at ENDO 2025, The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Higher Risk for 13 Cancers According to the CDC, 40% of adults are living with obesity. Obesity is associated with a higher risk for 13 cancers, which make up 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the US each year. They are adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, postmenopausal breast cancer, as well as cancer of the colon and rectum, uterus, gallbladder, upper stomach, kidneys, liver, ovaries, pancreas, thyroid, meningioma, and multiple myeloma. To see the trends in obesity-associated cancer deaths over the past two decades, Ahmed and colleagues analyzed CDC data for 33,572 obesity and cancer-related deaths. They found that the overall age-adjusted mortality rate gradually increased from 3.73 per million in 1999 to 13.52 per million in 2020. 'That's more than a tripling in obesity-related cancer mortality rates over 20 years — a striking rise,' Ahmed told Medscape Medical News . 'To put it in context, this is a steeper increase than seen in many other chronic disease mortality trends during the same time period. It signals a rapidly escalating public health burden,' he noted. Overall, the average percent change from 2018-2020 was +19.4%. The average annual percentage change was also statistically significant at 5.92 ( P < .000001). In stratified analyses, the overall age-adjusted mortality rate per million was greater in women than in men (7.22 vs 6.59), in non-Hispanic Black persons than in non-Hispanic White persons (9.20 vs 7.13), and in adults aged 65+ than those aged 25-64 (20.82 vs 3.54). Age-adjusted mortality rates from obesity-associated cancers were also higher in rural than in urban areas (9.45 vs 6.40). By region, overall, the Midwest had the highest rates and the Northeast had the lowest rates. State-level analysis revealed that Vermont, Minnesota, and Oklahoma had the highest rates, while Utah, Alabama, and Virginia had the lowest. Underappreciated Link The link between obesity and cancer-related mortality is 'often underappreciated,' Ahmed told Medscape Medical News . 'Our findings emphasize the need to prioritize obesity screening and management as part of comprehensive cancer prevention. Counseling patients on weight management should be reframed as a critical component of reducing long-term cancer risk,' he said. Ahmed also noted that socioeconomic factors could be driving the increase in obesity-related cancer deaths. 'While BMI is a contributing factor, disparities in socioeconomic status, access to preventive care, delays in diagnosis, environmental exposures, and cultural factors likely play a larger role in the observed variations across gender and race.' 'For instance, women may face more delayed diagnoses due to under prioritized symptoms, and certain minority groups may encounter systemic barriers to cancer screening and obesity treatment,' Ahmed said. To tackle the problem of rising rates of obesity-related cancer deaths, Ahmed said policy initiatives should move from downstream management to upstream prevention. This would include 'universal access to cancer screening programs, regardless of income or geography; public health campaigns that normalize obesity management as a cancer prevention strategy; policies promoting equitable access to healthy foods, physical activity, and early intervention services; incentives for primary care to integrate weight management into routine visits; and investment in community-based care models targeting underserved populations,' Ahmed told Medscape Medical News .
UPI
2 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Study: Obesity-related cancer deaths more than triple In United States
Deaths linked to the 13 types of obesity-related cancer rose to 13.5 deaths per million from 3.7 deaths per million between 1999 and 2020, researchers reported Sunday at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya/ Pexels July 14 (UPI) -- Cancer deaths linked to obesity more than tripled in the United States during the past two decades, a new study says. Deaths linked to the 13 types of obesity-related cancer rose to 13.5 deaths per million from 3.7 deaths per million between 1999 and 2020, researchers reported Sunday at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco. "Obesity is a significant risk factor for multiple cancers, contributing to significant mortality," said lead researcher Dr. Faizan Ahmed of Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City, N.J. "This research underscores the need for targeted public health strategies such as early screening and improved access to care, especially in high-risk rural and underserved areas," Ahmed added in a news release. More than 40% of U.S. adults have obesity, and obesity-related cancers represent 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States each year, researchers said in background notes. These include esophageal, breast, colon, uterine, gallbladder, stomach, kidney, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, thyroid and brain cancers, as well as the blood cancer multiple myeloma, researchers said. For the new study, researchers used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track more than 33,500 deaths from obesity-related cancers. Overall, obesity-related cancer deaths rose by nearly 6% a year on average between 1999 and 2000, results show. Between 2018 and 2020 the death rate took a dramatic turn upward, rising by more than 19% on average, researchers said. The study revealed sharp increases in obesity-related cancer deaths among specific groups, including women, seniors, Black people, Native Americans, and folks living in rural areas. The Midwest had the highest rate of obesity-related cancer deaths at nearly 8 per million, while the Northeast had the lowest at under 6 per million, results show. Vermont, Minnesota and Oklahoma had the highest state-specific rates of obesity-related cancer deaths, while Utah, Alabama and Virginia had the lowest. "Given these trends, targeted public health interventions, including preventive measures, early screening, and equitable healthcare access, are pivotal," researchers concluded in their presentation abstract. Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on obesity and cancer. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Cancer deaths from obesity have tripled in 20 years — which states have the highest and lowest rates
It's a growing problem. Cancer deaths tied to obesity have tripled in the US over the last two decades, according to sobering new research presented Sunday at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, California. The study analyzed more than 33,000 deaths from obesity-associated cancers between 1999 and 2020 and found that the age-adjusted mortality rate surged from 3.73 to 13.52 per million during that period — a more than threefold increase. New research reveals a shocking uptick in obesity-related cancer deaths in the last two decades. Louis-Photo – The risk isn't spread evenly, either — women, older adults, black people, Native Americans and those living in rural areas bore the brunt of the deadly trend. Geography also makes a big difference. The new study found that Midwestern states had the highest rates of obesity-linked cancer deaths, while the Northeast fared the best. At the state level, Vermont, Minnesota and Oklahoma saw the highest rates, while Utah, Alabama and Virginia had the lowest. 'Obesity is a significant risk factor for multiple cancers, contributing to significant mortality,' Dr. Faizan Ahmed of Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City, NJ, said in a press release. 'This research underscores the need for targeted public health strategies such as early screening and improved access to care, especially in high-risk rural and underserved areas.' Obesity now affects 40.3% of American adults, per CDC data. grinny – Obesity is strongly linked to at least 13 types of cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These include cancers of the breast in postmenopausal women, colon, uterus, gallbladder, pancreas, liver, thyroid and even the brain, among others. Together, these obesity-linked cancers account for a staggering 40% of all new cancer diagnoses in the US each year. Obesity now affects 40.3% of American adults, per CDC data. It is defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher — and it is associated with an increased risk of sleep apnea, infertility, depression, heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. The World Health Organization officially declared obesity a global epidemic in 1997, noting that rates had nearly tripled since 1975 — which is when experts believe the epidemic began. What has remained a hotly debated mystery is why the epidemic rages on, with many pointing the finger at lifestyle factors such as increases in ultra-processed foods and sedentary behavior. The good news is that while technology may be making us fatter, TikTok nutrition hacks and trendy weight loss drugs offer novel ways to win the battle of the bulge.
