Diet gun

Worldwide, the incidence of cancer attributed to obesity is 11.9% in men and 13.1% in women.

Excessive body weight has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cancer in at least 13 parts of the body including adenocarcinomas of the endometrium, esophagus, kidneys and pancreas, hepatocellular carcinoma, meningioma, multiple myeloma, colon cancer, breast, ovary, gallbladder and thyroid cancer in the postmenopausal stage.

The biological mechanisms linking obesity to cancer are insulin resistance, sex hormone pathway biosynthesis, chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress, alterations in adipokines physiology.

Also, aberrant fat deposition, vascular disorders, circadian rhythm disruption, lack of certain nutrients, altered intestinal microflora.

Recent research published on April 14, 2026 in MDPI entitled The Gut–Adipose–Tumor Axis in Obesity-Related Cancer, showed that the gut-adipose tissue-tumor axis is directly related to obesity.

Cancer can remodel distant tissues to favor malignant transformation. The gut microbiota is significantly associated with obesity and the development of pathological events.

Proinflammatory gut bacterial communities, combined with impaired intestinal barrier integrity, facilitate the systemic dissemination of microbial products that affect both adipose tissue homeostasis and the development of distant tumors through lymphatic transport.

The lower than normal abundance of beneficial bacteria and alterations in bile acid metabolism together with increased production of genotoxic metabolites create a systemic carcinogenic environment.

The chronic low-grade inflammation that characterizes obese adipose tissue also creates a systemic inflammatory state.

Major changes in adipokine secretion, particularly increased leptin (despite the development of leptin resistance) and decreased adiponectin, create hormonal imbalances that directly stimulate cancer cell proliferation, survival, and invasion.

Furthermore, adipose tissue dysfunction leads to metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and altered lipid metabolism, which provide growth signals necessary for cancer cell proliferation.

The tumor environment in obesity is influenced by dual signals originating from the gut and the adipose tissue.

The altered immune system, characterized by reduced immunosuppressive mechanisms and impaired antitumor immunity, results in a systemic immunometabolic disorder originating from gut dysbiosis and adipose inflammation.

A mechanism is thus created that includes the translocation of specific bacterial species, systemic inflammation, circulating metabolites, hormones and immune cell trafficking, creating an oncogenic systemic environment.

Lifestyle modifications, including balanced nutritional interventions and increased physical activity, exert very positive effects, such as reducing inflammation, restoring microbial diversity, improving adipose tissue function and enhancing antitumor immunity.

Also, therapies targeting the microbiome, from probiotics to modified bacteria, offer a positive contribution to the reconstruction of the intestinal ecosystem.

Metformin and GLP-1 receptor agonists help to simultaneously improve metabolic health and exhibit anticancer properties.

Integrating these approaches with conventional cancer therapies, especially immunotherapy, may enhance the efficacy of the treatment.

A high-fiber diet improves outcomes in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy, providing direct evidence that regulating the intestinal microbiome through diet enhances anticancer immunity.

Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for life, and interventions aimed at improving all of the factors mentioned will yield positive results.

Learning and following the rules of a balanced diet and regular activity will help avoid its possible appearance in the future.

Sources and articles that may help:
Diet and Immune Effects Trial (DIET)- a randomized, double-blinded dietary intervention study in patients with melanoma receiving immunotherapy
Gut microbiome: decision-makers in the microenvironment of colorectal cancer
Obesity and cancer risk: Emerging biological mechanisms and perspectives
5 Foods that can Cause Cancer
Sugar and How It’s Linked to Cancer
Drugs that cause Metabolic Disorders, Weight Gain and Body Fat Distribution
6 Types of Foods That Cause Inflammation
10 Vegetables and 10 Fruits High in Fiber