Obesity and cancer death in white and black adults: A prospective cohort study

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Dec;29(12):2119-2125. doi: 10.1002/oby.23290. Epub 2021 Oct 24.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether race modifies the association between obesity and cancer death.

Methods: The Pennington Center Longitudinal Study included 18,296 adults; 35.0% were male and 34.3% were Black. The primary end point was death from cancer.

Results: During a follow-up of 14.3 years, 346 cancer deaths occurred. Among men, race modified the association of BMI and cancer death (pinteraction = 0.045); compared with a BMI of 22 kg/m2 , a BMI of 35 in White men was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.74 (95% CI: 1.38-2.21), and in Black men, the hazard ratio was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.45-0.90). Among women, race did not modify the association of BMI and cancer death (pinteraction =0.43); however, compared with a BMI of 22, a BMI of 35 in White women was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.42 (95% CI: 1.18-1.70) and in Black women, the hazard ratio was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.82-1.20).

Conclusions: In this diverse cohort of adults, having obesity was associated with an increased risk of cancer death in White men and women. In contrast, having obesity was associated with a reduced risk of cancer death in Black men and did not influence risk in Black women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Neoplasms* / complications
  • Obesity / complications
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • White People*