How does the risk vary?

Cancer Council research shows that a waistline of around 100 cm for men, and 85 cm for women, significantly increases the risk of some cancers. The strongest associations were for:

colon cancer (male)
some cancers of the oesophagus
aggressive prostate cancer
cancer of the uterus
myeloid leukaemia.

Moderate associations were found for:

colon cancer (female)
rectal cancer
kidney cancer, and
breast cancer (after menopause).

For men with a waistline over 100 cm, risk increased by 72% for colon cancer and 43% for aggressive prostate cancer.

For women with a waistline over 85 cm, risk increases by 22% for breast cancer and 33% for colon cancer.

COMPARE YOUR RISK, BASED ON YOUR WAISTLINE:
Female relative risks compared with waist less than 80 cm

	Waist circumference (cm)
Cancer types	85	90	95	*100*	*105*
Postmenopausal breast cancer	17%	25%	32%	41%	50%
Colon cancer	19%	27%	35%	44%	54%
Kidney cancer	23%	33%	43%	55%	68%
Endometrial cancer	36%	54%	73%	95%	120%
Lower oesophagus/gastric cardia	64%	98%	139%	189%	249%

Male relative risk compared with waist less than 94 cm

	Waist circumference (cm)
Cancer types	95	*100*	*105*	*110*
Colon cancer	3%	21%	41%	65%
Aggressive prostate cancer	3%	17%	32%	50%
Kidney cancer	2%	10%	19%	29%
Lower oesophagus/gastric cardia	4%	25%	52%	83%

Relative risk definition

The risk of being diagnosed with cancer as compared to another group's risk (e.g. a non-smoker's risk of getting lung cancer as compared to a smoker's risk of getting lung cancer).

Cancer risk for women, based on waist measurement

WAIST LESS THAN 80 cm

WAIST ABOVE 85 cm

If your waist measurement is less than 80 cm, you are in the 'safe zone' for obesity-related cancer risk.

If your waist measurement is above 85 cm, then you have a moderately increased risk of the following cancers:

kidney
breast (after menopause)
colon, and
rectum.

If your waist measurement is above 85 cm, then you have a significantly increased risk of the following:

some cancers of the oesophagus
cancer of the uterus, and
myeloid leukaemia.

Cancer risk for men, based on waist measurement

WAIST LESS THAN 94 cm

WAIST ABOVE 100 cm

If your waist measurement is less than 94 cm, you are in the 'safe zone'.

If your waist measurement is above 100 cm then you have a moderately increased risk of:

kidney, and
rectum.

If your waist measure is above 100 cm, then you have a significantly increased risk of:

some cancers of the oesophagus
colon cancer
aggressive prostate cancer, and
myeloid leukaemia.

Definitions of cancer risk, as indicated below:

Safe zone: Your waist measurement doesn't increase your risk of the cancers identified in our research.

Advice: Maintain your healthy eating and active lifestyle habits to ensure you don't increase your risk.

Significantly increased risk: This means that you are at increased risk of some types of cancer, as identified in the Cancer Council research.

Advice: Check to make sure that you are eating a well balanced diet and/or getting enough exercise. Keep an eye on your eating habits; minimise your intake of fatty, fried and processed foods and sugary drinks such as soft drinks. Take the opportunity to see how you can increase your levels of physical activity, and speak to your doctor about getting some professional advice or referral to medical specialists who can help, such as dietitians.

See also:

Healthy eating

Exercise

Updated June 2007