Health professionals who experienced unexpected weight loss without a diet or exercise plan in the previous two years faced a significantly higher risk of developing cancer within the subsequent year, according to a study published in the journal JAMA Network.
The research focused on a 10% or greater weight loss in 157,474 participants from the Nurse’s Health Study and the Health Professional’s Follow-Up Study, with a median age of 62. Upper gastrointestinal tract cancer was the most common cancer associated with recent weight loss, along with hematologic, colorectal, and lung cancers.
The risk of cancer was higher in the first 12 months after weight loss compared to the following 24 months. Breast, genital, urinary, brain cancers, and melanoma were not linked to weight loss. Unexplained weight loss of 5% or more in six months is considered concerning, and experts recommend consulting a primary care doctor to rule out underlying conditions, including cancer.