Health
Unexplained Weight Loss Linked to Higher Cancer Rate in Study
- Upper gastrointestinal tract cancers rose after weight loss
- Higher rates seen when more than 10% of body weight is shed
Those who spontaneously shed more than 10% of their body weight developed cancer at a rate of about 1,362 per 100,000 over a 12-month period.
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People who lose a significant amount of weight without dieting, exercise or other lifestyle changes may also be at higher risk of some cancers, according to researchers who say a sudden drop may be an early indicator of the disease.
Those who spontaneously shed more than 10% of their body weight developed cancer at a rate of about 1,362 per 100,000 over a 12-month period, according to a study released Tuesday by the Journal of the American Medical Association, while the rate of diagnosis among people who hadn’t recently lost weight without explanation was 869 per 100,000.