Weight patterns throughout life may affect an individual’s likelihood of developing renal cell carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Deng et al in Cancer.
Study Methods and Results
In the study, investigators used data from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study to assess weight patterns as well as their associations with renal cell carcinoma and its different subtypes among 204,364 individuals. They analyzed information regarding body mass index (BMI) when the participants entered the study at an average age of 61.6 years and prior BMI recordings at ages 18, 35, and 50 years. The investigators noted that excess weight in mid-life is a known risk factor for renal cell carcinoma.
The investigators identified 1,425 cases of renal cell carcinoma among the participants, 583 of whom had aggressive renal cell carcinoma and 339 of whom had fatal renal cell carcinoma. Among the subtypes of renal cell carcinoma were clear cell renal cell carcinoma (n = 541), papillary renal cell carcinoma (n = 146), and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (n = 64).
Higher BMI at any of the ages assessed was linked to a higher risk of overall renal cell carcinoma and all of its subtypes, except chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. The risk of renal cell carcinoma increased by 10% to 40% for each 5-unit increase in BMI. Similar increased risks were associated with weight gain during adulthood that resulted in overweight or obesity compared with maintaining normal BMI.
Additionally, long-term excess weight was associated with a higher risk of overall renal cell carcinoma, aggressive renal cell carcinoma, fatal renal cell carcinoma, and clear cell renal cell carcinoma but not papillary renal cell carcinoma and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Weight loss in which an individual’s BMI was reduced by at least 10%, particularly later in life, was associated with a lower risk of renal cell carcinoma. Specifically, weight loss from ages 18 to 35 years and after age 50 years correlated with 21% and 28% reductions in renal cell carcinoma incidence, respectively.
Conclusions
“These findings emphasize that maintaining a healthy weight across [an individual’s] lifetime is important for reducing [renal cell carcinoma] risk. More importantly, weight loss, even later in life, may offer protective benefits,” underscored lead study author Zhengyi Deng, PhD, MBBS, of the Stanford University School of Medicine. “We should support initiatives that promote healthy weight maintenance and weight loss strategies. Some of these include lifestyle interventions, weight-loss programs, and emerging medical treatments for obesity; however, individuals should consult with their health-care providers prior to initiation of any plan,” he concluded.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com.
