Epidemiology

You have free access to this content

Obesity and incidence of lung cancer: A meta-analysis

  1. Yang Yang1,
  2. Jiayi Dong2,
  3. Kekang Sun1,
  4. Lin Zhao1,
  5. Fei Zhao1,
  6. Lili Wang3,
  7. Yang Jiao1,†,*

Article first published online: 30 JUL 2012

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27719

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 132, Issue 5, pages 1162–1169, 1 March 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Yang, Y., Dong, J., Sun, K., Zhao, L., Zhao, F., Wang, L. and Jiao, Y. (2013), Obesity and incidence of lung cancer: A meta-analysis. Int. J. Cancer, 132: 1162–1169. doi: 10.1002/ijc.27719

Author Information

  1. 1

    Laboratory of Tumor Radiobiology, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China

  2. 2

    Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China

  3. 3

    Department of Radiotherapy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China

  1. †

    Tel.: 86-512-6588-0050, Fax: +86-512-6588-0050

*Laboratory of Tumor Radiobiology, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China

  1. †

    Tel.: 86-512-6588-0050, Fax: +86-512-6588-0050

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 DEC 2012
  2. Article first published online: 30 JUL 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 9 JUL 2012 04:17AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 28 JUN 2012
  5. Manuscript Revised: 14 JUN 2012
  6. Manuscript Received: 2 MAR 2012

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (823K)

Keywords:

  • lung cancer;
  • obesity;
  • body mass index;
  • smoking;
  • meta-analysis

Abstract

To date, the relationship between obesity and the incidence of lung cancer remains unclear and inconclusive. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies to provide a quantitative evaluation of this association. Relevant studies were identified through PubMed and EMBASE databases from 1966 to December 2011, as well as through the reference lists of retrieved articles. A total of 31 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, excess body weight (body mass index, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) was inversely associated with lung cancer incidence (relative risk, RR = 0.79; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.73–0.85) compared with normal weight (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). The association did not change with stratification by sex, study population, study design, and BMI measurement method. However, when stratified by smoking status, the inverse association between excess body weight and lung cancer incidence in current (RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.57–0.70) and former (RR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58–0.91) smokers was strengthened. In non-smokers, the association was also statistically significant (RR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70–0.98), although the link was weakened to some extent. The stratified analyses also showed that excess body weight was inversely associated with squamous cell carcinoma (RR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58–0.80) and adenocarcinoma (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65–0.96). No statistically significant link was found between excess body weight and small cell carcinoma (RR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.66–1.48). The results of this meta-analysis indicate that overweight and obesity are protective factors against lung cancer, especially in current and former smokers.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (823K)