Question ID: Feb 4-5
Submitted by: February 4, 2011 Behavioral, Population, Epidemiology, and Prevention Provocative Questions workshop - Submitted to the website
March 27, 2011
How does obesity contribute to cancer risk?
Background: Numerous studies have linked obesity with an increased risk of cancer, and some show that weight loss can lower the risk of cancer. However, much less attention has been paid to understanding the underlying mechanisms.
Feasibility: Relevant research could include molecular studies to identify metabolic and signaling pathways associated with obesity, imaging studies to determine fat distribution patterns and / or clinical observations of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery or other weight loss strategies, and epidemiologic strategies to disentangle the effects of physical activity and diet. Special populations, such as Native Americans who are genetically predisposed to obesity, may also be useful. A workshop focused on the mechanisms linking obesity to certain types of cancer should also be considered.
Implications of success: A deeper understanding of the mechanisms and reversibility of the cancer risk posed by obesity could suggest new strategies for countering those risks and provide greater incentives for control of body weight. Understanding how obesity is mechanistically linked to cancer development also could develop another important field of research which bridges epidemiologically identified risk factors and the molecular biology of cancer development. (Note that this PQ is similar to a PQ posed by the Exploratory Provocative Questions Workshop on October 9, 2010.)
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