Slim waist and sufficient exercise
Only the combination significantly reduces the risk of cancer
Over 40% of the world's population suffers from abdominal obesity, which is characterized by excess fat around the waist. Almost 30% of people are not sufficiently physically active - two factors that have been shown to increase the risk of cancer. In a comprehensive study, a team from the Institute of Epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Regensburg has gained new insights into the links between abdominal obesity, physical activity and cancer risk. The results provide important information for public health promotion.
The study is based on data from 315,457 cancer-free participants from the UK Biobank who were followed over a period of 11 years. The study focuses on waist circumference as a measure of abdominal obesity, as opposed to the commonly used body mass index (BMI), which reflects general obesity. Waist circumference is now considered a more accurate indicator of cancer risk, as it is closely linked to biological processes such as insulin resistance, which play a key role in cancer development.
Structure of the study
Participants were divided into four groups according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on waist circumference (>88 cm for women and >102 cm for men) and adequate physical activity (>150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week):
- 1. slim waist (<88cm for women, <102cm for men) and sufficient physical activity (>150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week)
- 2. slim waist (<88cm for women, <102cm for men) and insufficient physical activity (<150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week)
- 3. abdominal obesity (>88cm for women, >102cm for men) and sufficient physical activity (>150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week)
- 4. abdominal obesity (>88cm for women, >102cm for men) and insufficient physical activity (<150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week)
Cancer diagnoses were determined based on health data during follow-up. Factors such as age, gender, diet, smoking and alcohol consumption were considered in the analysis to investigate the association between abdominal obesity, physical activity and cancer risk. Rigorous statistical methods ensured that the results were robust and reliable.
Key messages of the study
- Abdominal obesity increases overall cancer risk by 11%, physical inactivity by 5%. People who are neither slim-waisted nor sufficiently physically active have a 15% higher risk of cancer than those who are slim-waisted and sufficiently physically active. For cancers that are strongly associated with obesity and lack of physical activity, this risk rises to 48%.
- Adherence to only one recommendation (slim waist or adequate physical activity) is not sufficient to offset the negative impact on cancer risk of failing to meet the others.
- Overall, abdominal obesity and physical inactivity accounted for 2% of all cancers and 6% of obesity- and physical inactivity-associated cancers in the UK Biobank cohort.
By investigating whether physical activity can reduce cancer risk in people with abdominal obesity - and whether abdominal obesity affects cancer risk in physically active individuals - this study fills a crucial knowledge gap and aims to develop effective public health strategies. "Our results underline that both maintaining a healthy waist circumference and regular physical activity play an important role in cancer prevention and that practicable lifestyle changes have a positive long-term impact on health," says project leader Prof. Michael Leitzmann from the Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
Original publication
Patricia Bohmann, Michael J Stein, Amina Amadou, Hansjörg Baurecht, Béatrice Fervers, Emma Fontvieille, Heinz Freisling, Christine Friedenreich, Julian Konzok, Laia Peruchet-Noray, Michael F Leitzmann, Anja M Sedlmeier, Andrea Weber; "WHO guidelines on waist circumference and physical activity and their joint association with cancer risk"; British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2025-1-22
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