Prime Highlights:
A new study finds that children with obesity diagnosed with cancer face worse health outcomes, including higher risks of relapse and death.
Researchers analyzed data from over 11,000 cancer patients aged 2 to 19, with 10.5% of them being obese at diagnosis.
Obesity was linked to a 16% increased risk of cancer relapse and a 29% higher risk of death, even after adjusting for factors like age, sex, and ethnicity.
Key Background:
A recent study has revealed that children diagnosed with cancer who are obese face significantly worse health outcomes, including a higher risk of relapse and death. The research, conducted by a team of scientists in Canada, analyzed data from over 11,000 cancer patients aged 2 to 19. Of these, 10.5% were classified as obese at the time of their diagnosis. The study found a strong link between obesity and poorer outcomes across a wide range of cancer types, including leukemia, lymphoma, and other tumors.
Obese children had a 16% higher risk of cancer relapse and a 29% increased risk of death within five years of diagnosis, after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, and ethnicity. These findings, published in the journal Cancer, highlight the serious impact of obesity on childhood cancer prognosis.
The study’s lead author, Thai Hoa Tran, a pediatric haematologist and oncologist at the University Hospital Centre Sainte-Justine in Montreal, emphasized the importance of addressing childhood obesity. “Our study highlights the negative impact of obesity across all types of childhood cancers and underscores the need for strategies to mitigate its adverse effects in future clinical trials,” Tran said. He also noted the urgency of tackling the growing obesity epidemic, which can lead to significant long-term health consequences.
Obesity’s impact was particularly notable in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer, and brain tumors. Researchers suggested that adipose tissue, or fat cells, may play an active role in tumor development, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Additionally, the study raised concerns about the potential for undertreatment or inappropriate dosing of chemotherapy in obese patients.
Despite its insights, the study has limitations. It relied on body mass index (BMI) to measure obesity, which the authors acknowledge is a crude and imperfect tool. BMI does not accurately reflect body composition, nutritional status, or intake, potentially leading to misdiagnosis of obesity. This research serves as a call to action for improving the diagnosis and treatment of obese children with cancer, as well as for tackling the broader issue of childhood obesity.
