Global Patterns in Excess Body Weight and the Associated Cancer Burden

This study provides worldwide, national and demographic variables related to obesity, a summary of evidence that links excess body weight to danger of disease, and political behavior that may assist resolve the problem.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
Topic: HEALTHCARE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction:
Over the last couple of centuries worldwide the incidence of excess weight and the
related cancer toll has increased. The incidence in adult of excess body weight –identified as
a Body Mass (BMI) index (greater than or equal to 25 kg/ m2) –increased between 1975 and
2016 from almost 21 per cent in males and about 24 per cent in females to about 40 per
cent in both genders (Sung H et al. 2018). In particular, obesity (BMI greater or equal to 30
kg/m2) was four fold among males from 3 per cent to 12 per cent, and in females from 7 per
cent to 16 per cent more than doubled (Sung H et al. 2018). Combined with demographic
development, the figure for obese adolescents has grown from 100 million to 671 million
which is more than 6 times increment (Sung H et al. 2018). In high-income nations, males
and children in the western countries and females and girls in the Middle East, Central Asia,
and North Africa have experienced the biggest complete rise in obesity (Sung H et al. 2018).
Changes in the global food scheme, which encourages energy dense, nutrient poor food,
along with decreased possibilities for physical exercise, are believed to drive a concurrent
increase in overweight in almost all nations. In 2012, extra body mass ranged for around 3.9
percent of all cancers (544 300 cases) and in some western high income nations, in North and
Mid-East African nations, excess body weight ranged from less than 1 per cent to 7 to 8 per
cent (Sung H et al. 2018). The world cancer toll directly related to this situation and is most
probable to grow in future, given the pandemic share of excess body weight in high income
nations and the increased incidence in low and middle income nations. The possibilities to
combat obesity arise through the key policy activities to support an atmosphere conducive to
a good lifestyle and effective living, through a multi-sectoral co-ordinated application. The
fast rise both in excess body weight and the related carcinogenic burden highlight the need to
concentrate on the identification, implementation and assessment of measures to avoid and
regulate surplus body weight (Sung H et al. 2018). According to a recent study, policies,

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financial structures and promotional methods that encourage the energy dense, nutrient poor
consumption of meat, shifting behavioral trends, combined with a large overall energy intake
and human built conditions that amplify these variables lead to a global increase in body
weight. In 2012, excess body weight represented about 3.9 per cent of cancers globally,
which is unquestionably increasing in the next few centuries in the context of present
developments (Sung H et al. 2018).
This study provides worldwide, national and demographic variables related to obesity,
a summary of evidence that links excess body weight to danger of disease, and political
behavior that may assist resolve the problem.
Methods and Search strategy:
Specific key words were used to find the papers linked to this subject. For instance,
the investigators used key words or sentences such as "excess body weight," "cancer trend
associated with obesity." The investigators could discover only two papers with these main
phrases. Then the scientists used fundamental phrases such as' global trend ', 'obesity and
cancer' and 'effect of obesity or excess body weight in human'. Boolean operators were used
between these terms to increase the search efficiency. The investigators then continued to the
crucial evaluation segment of the task after discovering appropriate qualitative research. Most
of the papers were collected using internet databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and Google
Scholar. To maintain the relevancy of the data presented in this article, publication date for
the journals were limited to last seven years which from 2012 to 2019. Only one paper was
taken from the year 2002, due its relevancy to the topic.
Main body:
In the given case scenario, the prevalence of the increased body weight of people
contributing to obesity along with the increased cases of cancer associated have been

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focused. There has been an upsurge of the total body mass index in both the genders.
Moreover the increased body mass indexes have been higher among the areas of Middle East,
north area, central Asia. The main reasons for the increased body weight have been due to
the increased consumption of nutrient poor foods alongside a drastic reduction in the physical
activities. Thus this case study scenario focuses on the emerging consensus on the various
opportunities available for the effective control of obesity. Moreover, the upsurge in the cases
of obesity along with the enhanced prevalence of excess body fats associated with the burden
of cancer requires a global and effective concern which is focused and highlighted in the case
study.
In the review given by the author Sung et al (2018), the global as well as regional
patterns in the excessive body weight along with the main drivers instrumental in the progress
of the epidemic have been explored and summarized. Moreover, the author has highlighted
the main research question regarding the epidemiological evidence which supports the causal
link of the increased rates of cancer along with the excessive body weight seen among
people. Furthermore the core policy actions for the effective control and prevention of the
body weight has been discussed and explained. In the following research paper the author as
successfully reviewed the main research notion highlighted as a global cancer. The concepts
like the excess body weight beyond the Body Mass Index and its relations with the trends of
the increase in body weight have been focused. Moreover, the data have been compared with
the regional and international trends where the increased cases of obesity has been apparent
across all regions of the world especially the most high income western Countries along with
the middle income and the low income countries. Apart from the global trends which
highlight the importance of the issue, the author has justified the reason behind the sudden
upsurge in obesity through the specification of the key moderators and drivers of the global
increase in the body mass increase. The main theme of the scenario links the prevalence of

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the increased body weights along with cancers. Thus after clear specification and justification
of the increase in the body mass index greater than 25 units, the link to the cancers have been
justified by the author. Thus the author focuses on the fact that there has been an increased
global burden of the cancers which is ultimately attributable to the rise in body weight. All
the information stated in this review article has been well justified along with the
incorporation of statistical data and epidemiological evidence wherever applicable. The
author has described the link of obesity with almost all kinds of cancers and highlighted their
prevalence among various areas of the world along with the importance of the gender being
affected more. Moreover, the author has divided the data into various ways depending on the
amount of information and analysis done on each topic. The data has been substantiated into
parts for which data has been sufficient and for which data has been probable respectively.
According to the research studies by Ligibel, Obesity has been found as a major
under-recognized contributor which has an important role to the nation’s cancer toll.
Moreover, according to population statistics the number of people associated with drug and
substance use has been overpowered by the people suffering from cancer. Recent meta-
analysis studies of 82 papers including a population of more than 200,000patients suffering
from breast cancer have shown a 75% upsurge in mortality especially in pre-menopausal
women. There has been an increased 34% increase in mortality among the postmenopausal
women. Moreover, the findings by the researchers are in alignment with the man research
study of the author stating that there is an increased risk of cancer associated with obesity. A
BMI levels of more than 35 have been found to be associated with increased risk of colon
cancers mortality ad recurrence and it has also been established that obesity might also act as
a prognostic factor for other malignant cancers (Bianchini et al. 2015).
On the other hand Mauro et al. (2015) has reported in their study that there is definite
link between the adiponectin, IGF- IR (Insulin like growth factor I receptor) and the

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occurrence of the breast cancer. In their study the authors have shown that the adiponectin
serum concentrations are interlinked with the body mass index of an individual in an
inversely manner. Adipose tissue is primarily responsible for the secretion of the protein
adiponectin and this adiponectin has the characteristics of sensitization of the insulin. They
have argued in their study that the presence of adiponectin in blood plasma in low level is
associated with the increment of risk factor in relation to obesity linked cancer. In addition to
that, the authors have also stated that the presence of adiponectin on IGF-IR signaling has
influenced the ERα-negative breast cancer cells (Mauro et al. 2015).
Studies by Park (2016) have indicated that the field inclusive of cancer research has
been directed towards the enhanced interest towards the prevalent subsets of obesity
associated tumors. The tumors have been classifies as mammary, gastrointestinal, renal as
well as reproductive cancers in both women and men. Ever-increasing evidence from the
preclinical and clinical studies has indicated the fact that increases in adiposity is mainly
associated with the increase in incidence of cancer, morbidity and mortality. Thus it can be
seen the studies have complied with the findings of the author supporting the fact that pre-
diagnosis BBMI would be an important indicator as well as a contributor for the increased
cancer risk in various patients.
On the other hand, the studies by Iyengar and his collogues (2016) have contradicted
the fact that there is a link between obesity and cancer due to the overall morphology and
increased risk of tumor formation. The studies suggest that inflammation is the main central
as well as pivotal reversal mechanism which has a direct link to the progression and increase
in cell division in cancer. Moreover it also have been found that the various tumor promoting
factors responsible for obesity usually occur at the local level involving immunological
response which occurs via adipose inflammation along with the process of alterations in the
micro environment. Adipose inflammation has been found to be a major therapeutic reagent

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warranting further study for breaking the ultimate obesity cancer link. Although obesity is
characterized by elevated body mass index, the role of adipose tissue has a dual significance
in the increasing cases of obesity and the worldwide prevalence of cancers.
Conclusion
Thus from the following paragraphs it can be understood that there is an increasing
prevalence of the cases regarding cancer and its associated with the increased prevalence of
cancers all around the world. From the case study scenario it is evident that there is a
connection between the body mass index levels and the increased tumor progression among
the people. In the main research paper, the author has provided sufficient epidemiological
evidence which supports the causal link of the increased rates of cancer along with the
excessive body weight seen among people especially in countries where there is high income
for an instance the western countries. There are various demographic variable in the link
between cancer and obesity, age and gender being the main two variables. Over the years
there has been a sudden upsurge in obesity through the elaboration as well as evaluation of
the key moderators as well as drivers instrumental for the global increase in the increase in
body mass index. Most of the authors have supported the findings of the author stating that
the increased body mass index has a role in the tumor progression in the blood contributing to
cancer. However the third findings of the author has stated there is an elevated
immunological response ultimately leading to the increased adipose inflammation eventually
leading to cancer. Thus the upsurge in the prevalence of the bodyweight along with
implementation identification and the evaluation of interventions is necessary for the
prevention and the control of the excessive body weight seen among people of different age
groups and gender.

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References
Bianchini, F., Kaaks, R. and Vainio, H., 2002. Overweight, obesity, and cancer risk. The
lancet oncology, 3(9), pp.565-574.
Iyengar, N.M., Gucalp, A., Dannenberg, A.J. and Hudis, C.A., 2016. Obesity and cancer
mechanisms: tumor microenvironment and inflammation. Journal of clinical
oncology, 34(35), p.4270.
Ligibel, J.A., Alfano, C.M., Courneya, K.S., Demark-Wahnefried, W., Burger, R.A.,
Chlebowski, R.T., Fabian, C.J., Gucalp, A., Hershman, D.L., Hudson, M.M. and Jones, L.W.,
2014. American Society of Clinical Oncology position statement on obesity and
cancer. Journal of clinical oncology, 32(31), p.3568.
Mauro, L., Naimo, G.D., Ricchio, E., Panno, M.L. and Andò, S., 2015. Cross-talk between
adiponectin and IGF-IR in breast cancer. Frontiers in oncology, 5, p.157.
Park, J., Morley, T.S., Kim, M., Clegg, D.J. and Scherer, P.E., 2014. Obesity and cancer—
mechanisms underlying tumour progression and recurrence. Nature Reviews
Endocrinology, 10(8), p.455.
Sung, H., Siegel, R.L., Torre, L.A., Pearson‐Stuttard, J., Islami, F., Fedewa, S.A., Goding
Sauer, A., Shuval, K., Gapstur, S.M., Jacobs, E.J. and Giovannucci, E.L., 2018. Global
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