Spain study finds 58% of cancer patients are overweight or obese

The FOBEyCAN study, presented at the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) congress, reveals that nearly 58% of cancer patients in Spain are overweight or obese. Specifically, the research indicates that 23.6% of diagnosed patients present with obesity, while 57.8% have excess weight.

Data collected from 1,333 patients across 29 centers shows that obesity rates exceed 20% in several specific cancer types, including breast, colon, endometrium, ovary, and kidney cancers. The study notes that excess weight is prevalent across various tumor types, including lung and gastrointestinal cancers.

Demographic analysis shows that obesity was slightly more frequent in women (24%) compared to men (21%). The highest frequencies of both obesity and excess weight were observed in the 60 to 69 age group. Experts emphasize the need to incorporate body composition assessments into the comprehensive care of oncology patients.