title: European Code against Cancer 4th Edition: Obesity, body fatness and cancer.
abstract: It is estimated that over half the population of the European Union (EU) is overweight or obese due to an imbalance between energy expenditure and energy intake; this is related to an obesogenic environment of sociocultural, economic and marketing challenges to the control of body weight. Excess body fat is associated with nine cancer sites - oesophagus, colorectum, gall bladder, pancreas, postmenopausal breast, endometrium, ovary, kidney and prostate (advanced) - and 4-38% of these cancers (depending on site and gender) can be attributed to overweight/obesity status. Metabolic alterations which accompany excess body weight are accompanied by increased levels of inflammation, insulin, oestrogens and other hormonal factors. There are some indications that intentional weight loss is associated with reduced cancer incidence (notably in postmenopausal breast and endometrial cancers). Excess body weight is also a risk factor for several other diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, and is related to higher risk of premature death. In reviewing the current evidence related to excess body fat and cancer, the European Code against Cancer Nutrition Working Group has developed the following recommendation: 'Take action to be a healthy body weight'.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research into Cancer Prevention and Screening, Level 7, Mailbox 7, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Annie S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Key
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norat
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scoccianti
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Analyst OECD, 2 rue André Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 1 via Venezian, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrino
authors.affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, 114 rue Edouard Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boutron-Ruault
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espina
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Regensburg University, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leitzmann
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Unit, The Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10 2RX, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.affiliation: World Cancer Research Fund International, Second Floor, 22 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3HH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France. Electronic address: secretariat-cancer-code-europe@iarc.fr.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romieu
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D005062:European Union; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: BMI; Body fat; Cancer; Central obesity; Europe; Obesity; Primary prevention; Weight