Rise in obesity-related cancer deaths sparks concern over late diagnosis, US report finds

A US report has highlighted a worrying increase in obesity-related cancer deaths and warns that more cases may be diagnosed at a later stage due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2024 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, published this month in the Journal of Cancer, shows that while overall cancer death rates in the United States continued to decline between 2001 and 2022, diagnoses of certain cancers linked to obesity are on the rise — especially among women and younger adults.

Rates of pancreatic, kidney, uterine, breast, and liver cancers in women, as well as colorectal cancers in adolescents and young adults, were found to be driving the upward trend. Breast cancer diagnoses in particular have increased steadily, with the highest incidence reported among American Indian women.

While incidence rates among men have stabilised, cancer diagnoses among women have been rising by 0.3 per cent per year since 2003.

The report also reflects the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer incidence fell sharply in 2020, likely due to reduced access to routine healthcare and screening. Although rates returned to expected levels in subsequent years, the delay in diagnosis may mean more people are now presenting with cancer at a later, harder-to-treat stage.

Despite these concerns, researchers say cancer outcomes continue to improve thanks to changes in lifestyle risk factors, increased screening, and advances in treatment. The decline in smoking in the US, for example, has contributed significantly to the drop in smoking-related cancers.

However, the report warns that not everyone is benefitting equally. Persistent inequalities by race and ethnicity highlight the need to better understand and address the social and systemic drivers of poor outcomes.

While the data focuses on the US population, the findings mirror patterns increasingly seen in the UK, where obesity is also a growing contributor to cancer risk. Health experts continue to call for improved awareness, prevention strategies and equitable access to screening and treatment services.

The report draws on data from leading US bodies including the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Cancer Society, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.