2024-01-23 16:39:00
A study by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that unintentional weight loss is associated with an increased risk of a cancer diagnosis over the next year.
The study evaluated 157,474 participants in two large longitudinal studies and identified significant associations between recent weight loss and an increased risk of several types of cancer including gastrointestinal, hematologic, colorectal, and lung cancers.
The study differentiated between healthy weight loss due to better diet or more exercise and unhealthy weight loss that could be a sign of underlying cancer. This differentiation is crucial to identify the possible development of early-stage cancer. Similar levels of weight loss before diagnosis were observed in both early-stage and advanced cancer, emphasizing the importance of early detection.
The study highlighted the importance of unintentional weight loss as a potential sign of early-stage cancer, leading to the possibility of more effective treatment.
The mechanisms of cancer-related weight loss vary by cancer type, and this study reinforces previous findings linking unintentional weight loss with increased cancer risk.
According to researcher Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH, it’s important to see a doctor when experiencing unintentional weight loss without changes in exercise or diet.
This study was published today in the journal JAMA.
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