- Prostate tumours can be slow growing or aggressive and dangerous
- Obese men are more likely to develop deadly type than thinner men
- Extra 4in on the waist raises the risk of developing prostate cancer by 13%
Fiona Macrae Science Editor For The Daily Mail
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A beer belly raises a man’s odds of deadly prostate cancer, Oxford University research suggests.
A study found that every extra four inches on a man’s waistline increases his risk of developing the most dangerous form of the disease by 13 per cent.
He is also more likely to be killed by the cancer, a leading medical conference heard.
The scientists aren’t sure what’s behind the link but they say it is yet another reason for men to watch their weight.
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A beer belly raises a man’s odds of deadly prostate cancer – with every extra four inches on his waist increasing the odds of developing the most dangerous form of the disease by 13 per cent, a study had found
Other experts said the find could help doctors spot the disease when it is at its earliest stages and so still easiest to treat.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in British men, with more than 43,000 cases and almost 11,000 deaths a year.
The Oxford scientists analysed data on almost 150,000 men from eight European countries, including the UK.
The men had an average age of 52 at the start of the study and, over the next 14 years, 7,022 developed prostate cancer and 934 died from it.
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Prostate cancer is unusual because while a man may have the disease, it may grow so slowly that it never causes him any problems during his lifetime and he dies of something else.
Other men have a fast-growing, dangerous form and so need urgent attention.
The analysis showed that obese men have higher odds of the more serious type than thinner men.
For instance, a man whose waist is 37.5 inches (95cm) has a 13 per cent higher risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer than one whose waist is 33.6 inches (85cm).
And a man with a 41.5-inch waist (105cm) has odds that are 26 per cent higher.
Every four inches also raise the likelihood of dying by the disease by 18 per cent, the European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg heard.
Every extra four inches also raise the likelihood of dying by the disease by 18 per cent, researchers found. Pictured is a tumour in the prostate (pictured in orange)
The figures only apply to men who are already obese.
Dr Aurora Perez-Cornago, whose work was funded by Cancer Research UK, said that weight-related changes to hormones and the immune system may be driving the disease.
She added: ‘The findings from this large study show that the association between body size and prostate cancer is complex and varies by disease aggressiveness; men who have greater adiposity have an elevated risk of high grade prostate cancer and prostate cancer death.
‘Our results are in line with the health advice for other diseases.
‘Men should try to maintain a healthy weight.’
Simon Grieveson, of charity Prostate Cancer UK said: ‘Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active can protect against many diseases, including cancer.
‘This research adds to a growing body of evidence that shows that weight and waist size could be another crucial risk factor for men to be aware of when it comes to protecting themselves against prostate cancer.
‘Prostate cancer is often symptomless in the early stages when it is most treatable which is why awareness of risk is so crucial.
‘We already know that men over 50, black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer are more likely to develop the disease.
‘These findings may give doctors another warning sign to look out for.
‘Importantly, unlike the other known risk factors, being overweight is a risk factor that men can proactively do something to change.’
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