Obesity in children and adolescents and the risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and dose‒response meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective The relationship between obesity in children and adolescents and the risk of ovarian cancer remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore the exact shape of this relationship. Methods We conducted dose‒response meta-analyses of cohort and case‒control studies, including published studies derived from searches in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases until October 2022. Pooled effect size estimates are expressed as relative risks (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and were evaluated by fixed-effect models. A nonlinear dose‒response meta-analysis was performed by using a restricted cubic spline model. Results After screening 4215 publications, 10 studies were included in the present meta-analysis. Overall analyses revealed statistically significant associations of obesity in children and adolescents with ovarian cancer (adjusted RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.28, P < 0.001). Moreover, the association was consistently significant in most subgroup analyses, for example, using geographic stratification, the results remained stable both in the Americas(RR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.21; P = 0.022) and Europe (RR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.77; P<0.001). For the dose‒response analyses, the risk of ovarian cancer increased with the degree of obesity, and the trend increased rapidly when body mass index (BMI) was over 25.95 kg/m2. Conclusion Our findings indicate that obesity in children and adolescents is a risk factor for ovarian cancer, and the risk increases with increasing BMI.

Association of childhood and adolescence obesity with incidence and mortality of adulthood cancers. A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…These findings were in line with other studies as they also reported a significant association between cancer incidence and mortality with obesity in the youth (25, 26). Our findings were in line with other systematic reviews and meta-analyses studying specific malignancies, indicating that obesity in early life is associated with a greater risk of colorectal cancer in adulthood (RR:1.39, 95%CI (1.20, 1.62)) (20), higher risk of ovarian cancer that tends to increase with the increment of BMI (RR:1.19, 95% CI (1.11, 1.28) (21). It should be kept in mind that regardless of the association of obesity with the incidence and mortality of various cancers in adulthood, childhood obesity can persist into adulthood and adulthood obesity itself is an important risk factor for cancer and other morbidities (27).…”

“…Hence obesity in children and adolescents is of particular importance. Nonetheless, despite this importance, few systematic reviews have evaluated the association between obesity in children and adolescents and cancer in adulthood; these studies either are based on a single malignancy incidence ( 20 , 21 ), or the studies included adults in their analysis as well ( 22 ). Hence unlike previous studies, this study aimed to assess the association of obesity in children and adolescents with the incidence of various types of malignancies and malignancy-related mortality.…”

Most Relevant Genetic, Hormonal, and Environmental Factors in Ovarian Cancer Development – A Literature Review

“…It is indisputable that obesity and physical activity are important factors in carcinogenesis in general. There are studies describing the correlation between these aspects and the risk of OC [79][80][81][82]. Reserved evidence associates a small amount of physical activity with a higher risk of ovarian cancer [83].…”

A análise de fatores para o desenvolvimento da obesidade infantil como uma medida para a sua prevenção

“…Tal condição pode comprometer desempenho motor e coordenação motora grossa, fatores diretamente relacionados à atividade física regular e à composição corporal (Barros et al, 2022). Ademais, segundo Ding et al (2022), a obesidade também pode ser um agente de risco para o surgimento de câncer de ovário, condição decorrente do acúmulo de fatores ao longo do tempo.…”