Quick Links

Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, and Esophageal and Gastric Cancer

• The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study examined physical activity and body mass index (BMI) in relation to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EADC), gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, and gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma in approximately 500,000 people in the U.S.
• Compared to people with a BMI of 18.5 to 25, a BMI greater or equal to 35 was associated with significantly increased risk of EADC and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, but not gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma. Increased adiposity was associated with a higher risk of EADC even within the normal weight range.
• Physical activity may play a role in the prevention of upper gastrointestinal tract adenocarcinomas. No association was seen between physical activity and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Golestan Cohort Study

• This cohort study is evaluating the environmental and genetic risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Golestan Province, Iran. The study is led by the Digestive Disease Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in collaboration with DCEG and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon.
• From 2004 – 2008, the study recruited approximately 50,000 adults.
• Baseline assessments included a lifestyle questionnaire, a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and collection of blood, hair, nails and urine. Measurements included height, weight, waist and hip circumference, body size at different ages, and physical activity.
• Annual follow-up is ongoing.
• For more information, see this additional DCEG webpage.