Obesity Identified as Key Cause of Pancreatic Cancer in People in Their 20s and 30s... Risk Doubles If Left Unchecked

[The Financial News] A study has found that obesity is the main cause of pancreatic cancer among patients in their 20s and 30s.
A research team led by Professor Jung Yong Hong of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) and Professor Park Joo-hyun of the Department of Family Medicine at Korea University Ansan Hospital announced on the 28th that they had confirmed this by tracking 6,315,055 adults aged 20 to 39 who underwent the national health screening program between 2009 and 2012 for 10 years.
The team classified participants according to body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. A BMI under 18.5 was defined as underweight, 18.5 to 22.0 as normal weight, 23.0 to 24.9 as overweight, 25.0 to 29.9 as obese, and 30 or higher as severely obese. They then compared and analyzed the risk of pancreatic cancer by BMI category.
During the follow-up period through December 31, 2020, a total of 1,533 cases of pancreatic cancer were identified. The results showed a stepwise increase in pancreatic cancer risk as BMI rose.
Compared with the normal-weight group, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer was 38.9% higher in both the overweight and obese groups.
The researchers explained that from the overweight stage onward, people are chronically exposed to inflammatory substances derived from fat and develop increased insulin resistance, which stimulates the proliferation of pancreatic cells and creates an environment in which cancer cells can grow more easily.
The highest risk was seen in the severely obese group with a BMI of 30 or higher. Their risk of pancreatic cancer was 96% higher than that of people with normal weight.
The research team stressed that weight control is essential to prevent pancreatic cancer in people in their 20s and 30s.
Professor Jung Yong Hong emphasized, "It is important to start proactive weight management not only in cases of obesity but already from the overweight stage, as this is an effective strategy to reduce the burden of pancreatic cancer among young adults."
gaa1003@fnnews.com An Ga-eul Reporter