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Current Diabetes Reports
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Open Access 01-12-2025 | Obesity | REVIEW

A Review Article: The Relationship Between Obesity and Colorectal Cancer

Authors: Lily Nguyen, Skandan Shanmugan

Published in: Current Diabetes Reports | Issue 1/2025

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This article aims to review the recent literature assessing the relationship between obesity and colorectal carcinogenesis, the effect of obesity on the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), tools available to help augment the increased risk, and outcomes for patients who are affected by both obesity and colorectal cancer.

Recent Findings

The biochemical mechanisms contributing to CRC carcinogenesis are not well understood but are suspected to be related to adipose tissue leading to a pro-inflammatory state and changes in the gut microbiome. Individuals with obesity are at higher risk for CRC development, worse oncologic outcomes, and increased rates of post-operative complications. Bariatric surgery decreases CRC risk but results with GLP-1 agonists are heterogeneous. Prehabilitation is the only weight loss method that has been demonstrated to decrease risks of post-operative morbidity in this population.

Summary

Obesity augments CRC risk and outcomes. There are persistent knowledge gaps in etiology and epidemiology for the increased CRC risk in obese patients and more research is required to identify the therapeutic advantage of weight loss on CRC risk.
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Metadata
Title
A Review Article: The Relationship Between Obesity and Colorectal Cancer
Authors
Lily Nguyen
Skandan Shanmugan
Publication date
01-12-2025

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