India, June 26 -- A large international study has strengthened the evidence that excess body weight can raise the risk of several types of cancer. Researchers reviewed decades of peer-reviewed literature around the world and found that a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) is linked to an increased risk of 19 different cancers.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Metabolism on June 15, 2026.

The new review analysed information from 226 studies involving about 1.5 million documented cancer cases.

Study findings

The study found that a higher BMI, an estimate of body fat based on a person's height and weight, is positively linked to 19 distinct cancer types.

Some of the strongest links were seen for endometrial cancer, which affe...