A new study suggests that following the Mediterranean diet may help reduce the risk of cancers linked to obesity.
Researchers from the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) found that people who closely followed the diet had a 6% lower risk of developing these cancers, regardless of their body weight or fat distribution. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
How the Study Was Conducted
The study analyzed data from over 450,000 participants across 10 European countries. Researchers categorized participants based on their adherence to the Mediterranean diet, using a scoring system from 0 to 9. Those with higher scores (7–9) were considered to have high adherence, while those with lower scores (0–3) had low adherence.
Over nearly 15 years of follow-up, about 5% of participants developed obesity-related cancers. Those with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a slightly lower risk of developing these cancers (hazard ratio: 0.94) compared to those with low adherence. Moderate adherence showed a weaker, statistically insignificant protective effect.
Which Cancers Showed a Lower Risk?
When looking at specific types of cancer, researchers found that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was linked to:
- 8% lower risk of colorectal cancer
- 48% lower risk of liver cancer
- 33% lower risk of kidney cancer
Moderate adherence was associated with a lower risk of esophageal cancer, but no strong links were found between the diet and hormone-related cancers in women.
Beyond Body Weight: Why the Mediterranean Diet Might Help
One surprising finding was that the diet’s protective effect remained even after accounting for body weight and fat distribution (measured by body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio). This suggests that the benefits of the Mediterranean diet go beyond simply maintaining a healthy weight.
Researchers believe that the diet’s anti-inflammatory properties, its role in improving insulin sensitivity, and its impact on gut health could explain its cancer-protective effects. However, more research is needed to fully understand these mechanisms.
Could Processed Foods Be the Real Culprit?
Some scientists suggest that the Mediterranean diet’s benefits may come not only from the healthy foods it includes—such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish—but also from what it excludes. Highly processed foods, which are linked to a higher risk of cancer, are not part of the Mediterranean diet.
Many recent studies, including others from the EPIC research group, have shown that diets high in processed foods are associated with increased cancer risk. This raises an interesting question: Are some cancers classified as “obesity-related” actually caused more by processed foods than by excess weight itself? Future studies may explore this possibility.
Final Thoughts
This study adds to growing evidence that diet plays a crucial role in cancer prevention. While the reduction in risk was modest, it supports the idea that eating a Mediterranean-style diet may help protect against certain cancers, even in people who are overweight.
Avoiding ultra-processed foods while emphasizing whole, plant-based foods could be a key strategy for lowering cancer risk.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
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