Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is one of the top causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
While many people know that age and family history play a role in cancer risk, new research is highlighting something just as serious: obesity.
Scientists now say that being obese can increase your risk of bowel cancer by 30 to 50 percent.
Obesity is not just about carrying extra weight—it’s a condition that affects how your body works, especially how it handles hormones and inflammation.
When you carry too much fat, especially around your waist, it can cause long-term inflammation and changes in insulin levels, both of which may encourage cancer cells to grow in the colon and rectum.
Dr. Maria Thompson, an expert in cancer and metabolism, explains that this constant low-level inflammation in people with obesity helps create an environment where cancer is more likely to develop.
In particular, belly fat—also known as central obesity—is more dangerous than overall weight.
That means your waist size can be a better warning sign than your Body Mass Index (BMI). One major study even found that belly fat is responsible for up to 25 percent of bowel cancer cases in men.
The number of people with obesity has tripled since 1975, and today, over 650 million adults are considered obese.
This rise is directly linked to the increasing number of bowel cancer cases. That’s why experts are urging people to manage their weight—not just to feel better or move easier, but also to lower their cancer risk.
Lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Eating less red and processed meat, and choosing more fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can reduce your chances of developing bowel cancer. Even small amounts of weight loss can reduce inflammation and help protect your body.
Early detection is also key. When bowel cancer is found early, treatment is much more likely to succeed. But many people avoid traditional screening methods like colonoscopies because they are invasive and uncomfortable.
A new non-invasive test called COLOTECT might change that. This stool-based DNA test can detect genetic changes linked to bowel cancer more accurately than older tests, and it may encourage more people to get screened earlier.
With cancer cases projected to rise sharply by 2050, experts say the best approach combines early screening with healthy lifestyle habits. By staying informed, watching your waistline, and getting regular check-ups, you can take important steps to protect yourself from obesity-linked bowel cancer.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies that hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people, and early time-restricted eating could help lose weight .
For more health information, please see recent studies that Mediterranean diet can reduce belly fat much better, and Keto diet could help control body weight and blood sugar in diabetes.
