Being overweight linked to eight more types of cancer

Being fat could lead to even more cancers than previously thought, experts have warned. Researchers have linked being overweight or obese to eight more different types of cancer.

Having excess body fat can increase a middle-aged adult’s chance of developing cancers of the stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, and thyroid, as well as a type of brain tumour called a meningioma, and the blood cancer multiple myeloma, according to the International Agency for Cancer on Research (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organisation.

The study, part of the IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention programme, saw experts examine more than 1,000 studies of excess weight and cancer risk.