title: Body mass index and cancer screening: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is associated with an increased cancer incidence and mortality and therefore cancer screening is particularly important for obese individuals. However, some US studies find lower screening uptake in this group. This study explored whether rates of breast and colorectal screening in England are lower for obese than healthy weight individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed data from adults who were eligible to have been invited to the UK national screening programmes for breast or colorectal cancer (CRC) in the last five years, and had been given the screening module in Wave 5 of ELSA (N = 1804 for CRC screening, N = 2401 for breast cancer screening). Weight and height were measured by a nurse at Wave 4 (two years earlier). Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of breast and CRC screening (ever) for participants in higher weight categories (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 25) compared with healthy weight individuals (BMI <25), controlling for socio-demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of ELSA participants, 63% reported CRC screening, and 92% of the women reported breast cancer screening. Obesity was associated with lower CRC screening, but effects were strongest for class III obesity (BMI ≥40) (45% screened; OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.32-0.93, P = .029). There was no association between weight status and breast cancer screening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe obesity appears to be a deterrent to CRC screening but not breast cancer screening. Targeted interventions may be required to promote CRC screening uptake in this group, which already has a heightened risk as a consequence of weight.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT r.beeken@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beeken
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT.
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013222:State Medicine
keywords: body mass index; breast cancer; cancer screening; colorectal cancer; obesity