Weight loss

Suggested

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Suggested2 studies

Maintaining healthy weight significantly lowers postmenopausal endometrial cancer risk

Two large European studies involving over 170,000 participants confirm a strong link between excess body weight and endometrial cancer. In a nested case-control study within EPIC (817 cases, 817 controls), overweight women faced substantially elevated risk regardless of metabolic health: metabolically healthy overweight women had nearly double the risk (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.24–3.04), while metabolically unhealthy overweight women faced the highest risk (OR 2.69; 95% CI 1.92–3.77 by waist circumference). A prospective Norwegian cohort of approximately 170,000 women demonstrated that improving lifestyle factors including BMI over time was significantly associated with reduced postmenopausal endometrial cancer incidence. Weight loss through achieving a BMI below 25 kg/m² and waist circumference below 80 cm represents a modifiable strategy for risk reduction.

Evidence

A healthy lifestyle index and cancer: Using a multifactor lifestyle exposure to estimate cancer incidence and survival among Norwegian women

Authors: Chen, Sairah Lai Fa

Published: August 17, 2023

In the prospective cohort of approximately 170,000 Norwegian women, a higher HLI score — composed of physical activity, BMI, smoking, alcohol, and diet — was significantly associated with lower postmenopausal endometrial cancer risk. Greater positive changes in HLI score over time were also associated with lower risk of lifestyle-related cancers combined. Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic splines were used for analysis in the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study.

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Metabolically-Defined Body Size Phenotypes and Risk of Endometrial Cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)

Authors: Aune, Dagfinn, Biessy, Carine, Christakoudi, Sofia, Colorado-yohar, Sandra M., Crous-Bou, Marta, Dossus, Laure, Freisling, Heinz, Gicquiau, Audrey, Grioni, Sara, Gunter, Marc J., Heath, Alicia K., Huybrechts, Inge, Idahl, Annika, Kaaks, Rudolf, Katzke, Verena, Kliemann, Nathalie, M. May, Anne, Murphy, Neil, Olsen, Anja, Ould Ammar, Romain, Pasanisi, Fabrizio, Perez-Cornago, Aurora, Playdon, Mary C., Rinaldi, Sabina, Rylander, Charlotta, Sartor, Hanna, Skeie, Guri, Sánchez, Maria-Jose, Tin Tin, Sandar, Tjønneland, Anne, Weiderpass, Elisabete

Published: January 1, 2022

In this nested case-control study of 817 endometrial cancer cases and 817 matched controls within EPIC, metabolically healthy but overweight women had significantly higher endometrial cancer risk compared to metabolically healthy normal-weight women (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.24–3.04 by waist circumference). Metabolically unhealthy overweight women had the highest risk across all anthropometric measures (OR by BMI 2.38, 95% CI 1.73–3.27; OR by waist circumference 2.69, 95% CI 1.92–3.77; OR by waist-to-hip ratio 1.83, 95% CI 1.32–2.54). Overweight was defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m², waist circumference ≥80 cm, or waist-to-hip ratio ≥0.8. These associations were adjusted for multiple confounders using conditional logistic regression.

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