CHILDHOOD OBESITY WORSENS CANCER SURVIVAL: STUDIES SAY

A STUDY BASED ON THE IMPACT OF OBESITY ON OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

A population-based study indicates that among children with cancer, those with obesity at the time of diagnosis may face an elevated risk of dying. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis using the Cancer in Young People in Canada (CYP-C) database, examining all children diagnosed with cancer between ages 2 and 18 across Canada from 2001 to 2020. The study defined obesity as having an age and sex-adjusted body mass index at or above the 95th percentile, focusing on its relationship to cancer outcomes.

The analysis included 11,291 pediatric cancer patients, with 10.5% classified as obese at diagnosis. Researchers tracked both five-year event-free survival (survival without cancer relapse) and overall survival rates to determine if weight status influenced cancer outcomes.

Results revealed concerning disparities in cancer outcomes based on weight status. Children with obesity demonstrated lower five-year event-free survival rates (77.5% versus 79.6%) and reduced overall survival (83.0% versus 85.9%) compared to their non-obese counterparts, suggesting obesity may be a significant factor affecting cancer treatment efficacy and survival in pediatric populations.

When researchers controlled for multiple variables including age, sex, ethnicity, neighborhood income quintile, treatment era, and cancer categories, they found obesity at diagnosis correlated with a 16% higher risk of cancer relapse and a 29% greater risk of death. This negative impact was particularly pronounced among patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors.

“Our study highlights the negative impact of obesity among all types of childhood cancers. It provides the rationale to evaluate different strategies to mitigate the adverse risk of obesity on cancer outcomes in future trials,” explained co-senior author Thai Hoa Tran, MD, from the Center Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine in Montreal.
Dr. Tran further emphasized, “It also reinforces the urgent need to reduce the epidemic of childhood obesity as it can result in significant health consequences.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OPEN THE LINK BELOW:

More information: Impact of Obesity on Outcome in Children Diagnosed with Cancer in Canada: A Report from CYP-C, Cancer (2025). DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35673

Journal information: Cancer