title: Large body size and sedentary lifestyle during childhood and early adulthood and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a high-risk population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the association of obesity and physical activity at young ages with subsequent risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2003 and 2007, we conducted a case-control study in a high-risk population in northeastern Iran. Three hundred ESCC cases and 571 matched controls were recruited. Each individual was shown a standard pictogram, to report body size at ages 15 and 30. Demographic and health-related information, including physical activity at these ages was also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the fully adjusted models, very obese body size (last two pictograms) at age 15 [odds ratio (OR) 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-7.7] and age 30 (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.1-8.5) were associated with ESCC in women, but not in men. Sedentary work at age 15 (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-8.3) and 30 (OR 18.2, 95% CI 3.9-86.2) were also associated with ESCC risk in women only. The increased risk in women at age 15 remained high after later reduction in body size, while women who became very obese only at age 30 did not show a significantly increased risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results highlight the importance of early lifestyle modifications in the context of cancer prevention, particularly in women.
authors: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. arash.etemadi@nih.gov
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Etemadi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Golozar
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Kamangar
authors: N D
authors: ND
authors: Freedman
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Shakeri
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Matthews
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Islami
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Boffetta
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Brennan
authors: C C
authors: CC
authors: Abnet
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Malekzadeh
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Dawsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D057185:Sedentary Behavior