Obesity increases the incidence and mortality from some types of cancer, but it remained uncertain whether intentional weight loss can decrease this risk.
In a retrospective cohort study of 318 patients, bariatric surgery was significantly associated with a lower risk of obesity-associated cancer and cancer-related mortality. [Aminian A, Wilson R, Al-Kurd A et al. Association of Bariatric Surgery with Cancer Risk and Mortality in Adults with Obesity. JAMA. Published online June 3, 2022. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.9009]
Among adults with obesity, bariatric surgery compared with no surgery was associated with a significantly lower incidence of obesity-associated cancer and cancer-related mortality. This gives one more important benefit of bariatric surgery, in addition to the improvement of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and reduction of cardiovascular morbidity.