Energy-Dense Foods Increase Cancer Risk in Older, Leaner Women

Foods high in dietary energy density (DED) might increase the risk of obesity-related cancers in women, according to the findings of a recent study. This risk was particularly high for women who were postmenopausal and normal-weight.

In their study, the researchers analyzed the data of 92,295 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years who were enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative.
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The researchers administered a food frequency questionnaire at baseline to assess DED consumption, and incidents of obesity-related cancers were determined using medical records. Competing-risks regression models were used to examine the association between obesity-related cancers and DED intake, and body mass index (BMI)-stratified models were used to investigate whether BMI was a potential modifying factor in this relationship.

The researchers found that DED intake was associated with higher BMI and waist circumference. Those who consumed the highest amount of DED had higher BMI (28.9 vs 26.3) and waist circumference (89.3 vs 82.4 cm) compared with those who consumed the least.

In addition, DED was associated with a 10% increased risk for any obesity-related cancer, but this risk appeared to be associated with women who had a normal weight at baseline.

“Higher DED may be a contributing factor for obesity-related cancers, especially among normal-weight postmenopausal women and, as such, could serve as a modifiable behavior for dietary interventions to reduce obesity-associated cancer risk,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Thomson CA, Crane TE, Garcia DO, et al. Association between dietary energy density and obesity-associated cancer: results from the Women’s Health Initiative [published online August 17, 2017]. J Acad Nutr Diet. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2017.06.010.