May 14, 2026 — A new study published in medRxiv suggests that people who experience steeper increases in body weight between ages 17 and 60 may be at a higher risk for certain cancers. The research, conducted by Anton Nilsson and colleagues from the European Association for the Study of Obesity, analyzed data from multiple pooled cohorts to examine the relationship between weight trajectories and cancer incidence.
Key Findings: Steeper increases in body weight were associated with a higher incidence of several established obesity-related cancers. For men, liver cancer and oesophageal adenocarcinoma showed particularly pronounced increased risks. Among women, endometrial cancer was strongly linked to weight gain. Renal cell carcinoma and pituitary tumors had significant associations across both sexes.
The study also highlighted that: Weight changes before entering adulthood at age 17 were associated with several cancers. Early adult body weight and weight gain throughout adulthood were associated with the risk of most established and some potentially obesity-related cancers, with differences by cancer site, sex, and timing of weight gain. The main biological mechanisms linking obesity to cancer include altered sex hormone metabolism, insulin signaling, and adipokine secretion and inflammation.
The authors conclude that both early adult body weight and weight gain across adulthood are important factors in the risk of various types of cancers. They emphasize the importance of a life-course perspective on weight management for cancer prevention in light of rising obesity rates globally.
Publication Details: Anton Nilsson et al, "Weight Trajectories and Cancer Risk: A Pooled Cohort Study," medRxiv (2026).
Citation: Study shows that people who gain the most weight are at more than double the risk of certain cancers.
