Bodyweight increases likelihood of contracting ovarian cancer

Overweight women are more likely to get ovarian cancer than thinner counterparts, researchers have said.

Scientists have previously linked being overweight or obese to a number of other cancers, such as those of the womb, breast, and bowel. Now experts at the World Cancer Research Fund have also linked being overweight to ovarian cancer.

Researchers at the charity’s Continuous Update Project discovered the link after examining 128 studies about women with ovarian cancer. A further analysis of 25 studies which contained data about ovarian cancer incidence and body mass index scores suggested a 6% increased risk of disease for every five BMI units.