Why Women Dealing With High BMI Can Be At Higher Risk Of Ovarian Cancer

{By: Dr Nidhi Sharma Chauhan}

BMI, the body mass index, a risk factor or a trigger for the development of ovarian cancer? The the risk association with ovarian cancer of all the gynaec malignancies for BMI is rather weak for ovarian cancer as per all the studies and the evidence. What has been shown is that the correlation of a high BMI causing other gynaec malignancies is much stronger, like uterine malignancy is very strongly correlated with a higher BMI, also the breast malignancy, but ovarian per se has a hereditary component and as such, increased BMI, there are few studies which say that increased BMI can increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, but these studies have shown to increase the risk in premenopausal women, women before menopause. I can send you the studies, you can have a look at those and the second is in women who are taking hormone therapy vis-a-vis women who are not taking it, the risk appears to be a little different.

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Estrogen And BMI In Ovarian Cancer Development 

BMI contributing to ovarian cancer, well, it has been seen that the adipose tissues, they also produce some amount of extra estrogen, so that is the excess amount of estrogen that the body has, which it's not supposed to have because of excess adipose tissue, which is the fat cells. Now, that definitely has a correlation with endometrial cancer, but with ovarian cancer, recent studies have shown a weak correlation that because the estrogen is stored there, that could lead to borderline ovarian malignancies or the development of early ovarian cancer. So, yes, this is the correlation.

Insulin Resistance, BMI, And Ovarian Cancer Survival

Another hypothesis which has been postulated is that a higher BMI is associated with higher levels of insulin, hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance, which causes an increase in the insulin-like growth factor, IGF-1, as well as the androgens, and now these have been shown to cause proliferation of the ovarian epithelial cells in ovarian epithelial cancer, one particular type of ovarian cancer. So, yes, that is one association that has been seen in one study and otherwise, on the whole, it is very important to maintain a good BMI so that of course, the risk of other cancers is also reduced. Also, a higher BMI, if a woman develops an ovarian cancer and gets her surgery done or some kind of treatment done, the chances of the 5-year survival rate is more in a woman who has a lower BMI, the recovery is better as compared to a woman who has a higher BMI.

So, that is also where the BMI plays a role in the ovarian cancer risk and also the 5-year survival rate after treatment.

The author, Dr Nidhi Sharma Chauhan is the Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai

[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]

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