A study published in JAMA shows that weight loss through bariatric surgery for adults with obesity was associated with a 32% lower risk of developing cancer and a 48% lower risk of cancer-related death compared with those who did not have the surgery.
Rising obesity numbers are being seen all over the world. The International Agency for Research on Cancer describes 13 types of cancer as obesity-associated cancers such as endometrial cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, and cancers of the colon, liver, pancreas, ovary and thyroid.
Lead author of the study, Ali Aminian, MD, at Cleveland Clinic, said that bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment for obesity. “Patients can lose 20 to 40% of their body weight after surgery, and weight loss can be sustained over decades. The striking findings of this study indicate that the greater the weight loss, the lower the risk of cancer,” said Dr Aminian.
From 2004 and 2017, the SPLENDID (Surgical Procedures and Long-term Effectiveness in Neoplastic Disease Incidence and Death) study matched a group of 5053 adult patients with obesity who had bariatric surgery 1:5 to a control group of 25 265 patients with obesity who did not undergo the surgery.
After 10 years, 2.9% of patients in the bariatric surgery group and 4.9% of patients in the non-surgical group developed an obesity-associated cancer.
After 10 years, 0.8% of patients in the surgery group and 1.4% of patients in the non-surgical group died from cancer, indicating that bariatric surgery is associated with a 48% lower cancer mortality risk.
Researchers noted that the benefits of bariatric surgery were seen in a wide range of study participants in terms of age, sex and race. In addition, benefits were similarly observed after both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve operations.
“According to the American Cancer Society, obesity is second only to tobacco as a preventable cause of cancer in the United States,” said the study’s senior author, Steven Nissen, MD, Chief Academic Officer of the Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute. “This study provides the best possible evidence on the value of intentional weight loss to reduce cancer risk and mortality.”
Numerous studies have shown the health benefits of bariatric or weight-loss surgery in patients with obesity. The Cleveland Clinic-led STAMPEDE study showed that following bariatric surgery, significant weight loss and control of type 2 diabetes last over time. The SPLENDOR study showed that in patients with fatty liver, bariatric surgery decreases the risk of the progression of liver disease and serious heart complications.
The SPLENDID study adds important findings to the literature focused on the link between obesity and cancer. Given the growing epidemic of obesity worldwide, these findings have considerable public health implications.
“Based on the magnitude of benefit shown in our study, weight loss surgery can be considered in addition to other interventions that can help prevent cancer and reduce mortality,” said Jame Abraham, M.D., chairman of the Hematology and Medical Oncology Department at Cleveland Clinic. “Further research needs to be done to understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for reduced cancer risk following bariatric surgery.”
Source: Cleveland Clinic
