Obesity Linked to Increased Risk of Thyroid Cancer

Research has shown that obesity can increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Until now, thyroid cancer has been attributed to radiation therapy or family history, but as a new cause of obesity has been discovered, improving eating habits and exercise is expected to receive attention as a treatment and prevention method.

A recent meta-analysis of 22 cohort studies published in international academic journals from 2001 to 2023 by Myung Seung-kwon, professor in the Department of Cancer AI and Digital Health at the International University Cancer Graduate School, found that obese people have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer.

The research team explained that obesity increases the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood, stimulating the thyroid gland and stimulating the thyroid’s insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor, causing the proliferation of thyroid cells, therefore increasing the chance of developing thyroid cancer.

Until now, it was known that thyroid cancer is caused by radiation exposure and family history and that there are virtually no controllable risk factors. The results of this study show that as obesity increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer, the importance of obesity management, including diet, has also increased.

Professor Seung-kwon Myung said: “According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) or the Korean National Cancer Information Center, the cause of thyroid cancer is not preventable in most cases because there are no controllable risk factors other than radiation exposure and family history. He added: “However, obesity can have an effect.” “To prevent thyroid cancer, obese people should reduce the amount of food they eat and increase exercise or regular activity,” he recommended.

This study was published on October 26 in “Nutrition and Cancer”, an international oncology journal at SCIE level.

Key Takeaways:

• Obesity increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer.
• Improving eating habits and exercise can help prevent thyroid cancer.
• Obesity management, including diet, is crucial in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer.