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Obesity Linked to Subsequent Neoplasms in Childhood Cancer Survivors

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 6, 2025.

FRIDAY, June 6, 2025 -- Body mass index (BMI) and physical activity are associated with the risk for subsequent neoplasms among childhood cancer survivors, according to a study published online June 5 in JAMA Oncology.

Lenat Joffe, M.D., from Northwell in New Hyde Park, New York, and colleagues examined associations between time-varying BMI/physical activity and subsequent neoplasm risk among childhood cancer survivors in a retrospective cohort analysis. Five-year childhood cancer survivors diagnosed at younger than 21 years of age between 1970 and 1999 were enrolled and followed through September 2019.

Overall, 22,716 participants had BMI data before subsequent neoplasm development and met eligibility criteria for the study. The researchers found 2,554 subsequent neoplasms among 2,156 individuals (median age at subsequent neoplasm diagnosis, 37.4 years). Higher 30-year subsequent neoplasm cumulative incidence was seen for survivors reporting lower physical activity (18.6 percent for 0 metabolic equivalent hours/week [MET-h/wk] versus 10.9 percent for 15 to 21 MET-h/wk). Obese BMI was associated with increased incidence rates of solid organ, central nervous system (CNS), and skin subsequent neoplasms (relative rates, 1.22, 1.47, and 1.30, respectively). A protective association was seen for higher physical activity (15 to 21 MET-h/wk) for any, solid organ, CNS, and skin subsequent neoplasms (relative rates, 0.61, 0.65, 0.50, and 0.72, respectively). Specific associations were seen for BMI and physical activity with subsequent meningiomas and thyroid carcinomas, but not with breast or colorectal cancers or hematologic subsequent neoplasms.

"The findings of this cohort study indicated that BMI and physical activity may considerably impact subsequent neoplasm risk long after completion of therapy," the authors write.

Two authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries.

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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Posted June 2025

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