Abdominal fat, not just weight, raises risks for certain cancers, study finds.

A University of Bristol-led study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds that fat distribution—where fat is stored in the body—may influence the risk of certain cancers more than overall body weight. Using genetic analysis, researchers examined 12 obesity-related cancers and found that abdominal fat is particularly linked to endometrial, liver, and pancreatic cancers, while total fat amount plays a bigger role in others. The findings suggest fat location affects cancer risk differently by type, supporting the need to move beyond BMI as a sole health indicator. The research, funded by World Cancer Research Fund UK and Cancer Research UK, calls for more personalized prevention strategies and further study, especially in diverse populations, to understand the biological mechanisms involved.