Abstract

SEPULVEDA FONSECA, Jefersson David  and  QUINTERO FARIAS, Ricardo Andrés. Obesity and cancer: pathophysiology and epidemiological evidence. Revista médica Risaralda [online]. 2016, vol.22, n.2, pp.91-97. ISSN 0122-0667.

Background: Obesity is said to be a major public health issue around the globe. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in developed and developing countries, to the extend that obesity is being regarded as the epidemic of the XXI century. Overweight is an important risk factor in the acquisition of chronic diseases and certain types of cancer such as; colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, and breast cancer in menopausal women. Methods: In June 2015, a systematic search for scientific literature in the main biomedical databases was performed: PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS, IMBIOMED and COCHRANE, making use of the following key words: cancer, obesity, neoplasm, overweight, epidemiology, associations and review, between 1980 and 2015. Results: There is a significant statistical relationship between obesity and several types of cancer, such as; colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, and breast cancer in post-menopausal women.Obesity and overweight may have considerable effects on several physiological systems that may subsequently increase the risk of cancer. Conclusions: There is a relationship between obesity and the onset of several types of cancer. The understanding of this mechanism is important for the implementation of public health measures and changes in life style, seeking to prevent cancer and obesity.

Keywords : obesidad;  neoplasia;  sobrepeso; epidemiologia;  asociación ;  revisión. ; cancer; , obesity; , neoplasm; , overweight; , epidemiology; , associations ; y review.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )