Weight Loss, Obesity Medication, and Risk of Obesity-Associated Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Chengwen Li, Chu Lin, Xiaoling Cai et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessed whether antiobesity medications (AOMs) and medication-mediated weight loss were associated with obesity-associated cancer risk in people with overweight or obesity. Across 25 trials involving 40,731 participants, AOMs were not associated with lower overall obesity-related cancer risk compared with placebo (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.37); results were also null for site-specific cancers. Each 5 kg of medication-mediated weight reduction was likewise not associated with lower overall cancer risk. A subgroup analysis found lower overall cancer risk among users of coagonists, although this finding requires cautious interpretation.
Key findings
- Across 25 trials and 40,731 participants, AOMs were not associated with overall obesity-related cancer risk versus placebo (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.37).
- Each 5 kg of AOM-mediated weight reduction was not associated with overall obesity-related cancer risk (RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.12).
- In subgroup analysis, coagonists were associated with lower overall obesity-associated cancer risk (RR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.97).
- For coagonists, each 5 kg of mediated weight reduction was marginally associated with lower overall cancer risk (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.00).
Why it matters
Cancer prevention is a potential long-term consideration in obesity treatment, but the pooled trial evidence did not show reduced overall or site-specific cancer risk with AOMs or medication-mediated weight loss. The coagonist subgroup signal is potentially relevant, yet it does not establish a general cancer-prevention effect and should be interpreted alongside the overall null findings.
What to keep in mind
Cancer outcomes were assessed across trials of AOMs, and the coagonist result comes from a subgroup analysis; the abstract does not provide further detail on cancer-event counts or follow-up.