Unintentional weight loss may indicate increased risk of cancer: Study

Sudden and unintentional weight loss is associated with an increased risk of a cancer diagnosis in the coming year according to a new studyResearchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that the risk of sudden weight loss was particularly elevated for upper gastrointestinal cancer haematological cancer colorectal cancer and lung cancerHowever it was not seen in breast cancer urinary tract cancer brain cancer or melanoma cancer patientsThe team urged healthcare professionals and the public to be vigilant about sudden and unintentional weight lossIf you lose weight without making changes to your diet and exercise routine you should see a doctor to find out what the cause may be There are several conditions that can result in unexpected weight loss Doctors can evaluate whether it is something that needs further investigation said Qiaoli Wang a researcher at the Department of Clinical Science Intervention and Technology Karolinska InstitutetThe new study published in JAMA included 157 474 people aged 40 and older in the US who were followed for more than 30 years Detailed information on weight and exercise was collected every two years and dietary data was reported every four yearsThe researchers assessed weight losspromoting behaviours by evaluating changes in participants diet and exercise Weight loss intentionality was classified as high for those who had increased their physical activity and improved their diet medium if only one of the factors had changed and low if no changes had been made to the diet and exerciseIn the latter group the incidence of cancer in the coming year was twice as high in people who lost more than 10 per cent of their body weight during the past two years compared to those who did not lose weightThe study suggests that people who have recently lost weight especially those with unintentional weight loss should see their doctor for further examinations to rule out possible cancersUnintentional weight loss is important for healthcare providers to consider when assessing individual cancer riskIntentional weight loss through more exercise or a healthier diet can be good for peoples health But unintentional weight loss that is not due to healthier behaviours may indicate an underlying disease including cancer said WangThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever