Obesity is far more than a cosmetic concern—it’s a chronic disease that significantly increases cancer risk by disrupting hormones, weakening the immune system, and creating a bodily environment where cancer cells can thrive, according to medical experts.
Dr. Huang Hsuan, a specialist in chest and critical care medicine, emphasized that fat tissue is not merely a storage depot but an active endocrine organ that continuously releases biological signals. When body fat increases, the body enters a long-term state of low-grade inflammation, which can silently damage DNA and raise the likelihood of cellular mutations leading to cancer.
Beyond inflammation, obesity alters hormone levels, including estrogen, insulin, and leptin. These hormonal shifts can create favorable conditions for certain cancers to grow, particularly breast, endometrial, and colorectal cancers. A systematic review published in JAMA found that obesity is directly linked to more than 10 types of cancer, including uterine, esophageal, stomach, liver, kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, colorectal, postmenopausal breast, ovarian, thyroid cancers, and multiple myeloma.
One of the most critical impacts of obesity is its interference with immune function. Dr. Huang explained that in an obese environment, T cells and natural killer (NK) cells—responsible for patrolling the body and destroying abnormal cells—become sluggish. This impairment allows early cancer cells to evade immune surveillance, increasing the risk of spread, and progression.
Importantly, these risks are not irreversible. Research shows that losing just 5% to 10% of body weight can reduce inflammation, help rebalance hormones, and partially restore immune function, thereby lowering cancer risk. Dr. Huang urged the public to view weight loss not as a cosmetic goal but as a vital step in disease prevention, helping the body regain its ability to fight illness.
