Weight, Height & Related Measures

Body size and factors related to size are associated with the risk of some cancers. These factors include:

• weight status, particularly obesity and weight gain;
• body fat distribution;
• body composition (the balance between lean and fat tissue); and
• height.

The Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch (RFMMB) is interested in body size measures for several reasons:

• Obesity significantly increases the risk of a number of cancers, including colorectal, endometrial, post-menopausal breast, and renal cell cancers, and some types of esophageal cancer. The current prevalence of obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater, has reached epidemic proportions. In the United States, 33% of the population aged 20-74 years is classified as obese. In 1976-80, the prevalence of obesity was 15%.
• Body composition and the distribution of body fat are related to the production of insulin, insulin-like growth factors, and the metabolism of sex hormones, which are associated with risk of some cancers.
• The link between weight status and sex hormones suggests that weight gain during particular life stages may contribute to increased cancer risk. Proposed critical periods include adolescence, the child-bearing years, and menopause.