Excess weight is a known risk factor for cancer, but the precise mechanisms have remained elusive. A groundbreaking new study sheds light on this process, identifying a specific protein secreted by body fat that transforms healthy cells into cancerous ones. Notably, visceral fat—the deep abdominal fat surrounding organs—releases higher levels of this protein compared to subcutaneous fat beneath the skin, accelerating tumor growth.
“Our study suggests that body mass index, or BMI, may not be the best indicator,” said the lead researcher. “It is abdominal obesity, and more specifically, levels of a protein called fibroblast growth factor-2, that may better signal the risk of cells turning cancerous.”
