Men Face Higher Cancer Risk with This Specific Body Fat Measurement

Obesity has long been linked to cancer risks, but new research suggests that where fat is stored matters even more—especially for men. According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, waist circumference is a more accurate predictor of obesity-related cancers than BMI, and men might need to pay extra attention to their midsections.

The study, spearheaded by researchers from Lund University in Sweden, analyzed data from 340,000 Swedish individuals aged around 51, collected between 1981 and 2019. Over 14 years, researchers tracked 18,185 diagnoses of obesity-related cancers, revealing a striking gender difference in the risks tied to fat distribution.

For men, every 11 cm increase in waist circumference correlated with a 25% higher risk of obesity-related cancers, compared to a 19% increase tied to BMI. Women, on the other hand, saw a 13% increased risk from both a 12 cm rise in waist circumference and higher BMI. This shows that while waist size matters for everyone, men are uniquely vulnerable.

Here’s the kicker: visceral fat—fat stored deep in the abdomen—is the real troublemaker. This metabolically active fat secretes inflammatory chemicals that disrupt hormones and pave the way for cancer cell growth, according to Dr. Marc Siegel of NYU Langone Health. Men are more prone to storing visceral fat than women, who typically accumulate subcutaneous fat under the skin.

Dr. Ming Sun and her team explained that visceral fat’s metabolic activity makes waist circumference a stronger risk factor for cancer in men, offering insights that BMI simply can’t provide. "Visceral fat is linked to insulin resistance, inflammation, and abnormal blood fat levels," the researchers noted. "This explains why individuals with similar BMIs may have drastically different cancer risks based on fat distribution."

Both Dr. Siegel and Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon, emphasized the importance of measuring waist circumference to keep cancer risks at bay. Osborn went so far as to call belly fat "carcinogenic"—not just a cosmetic annoyance. He advises men to keep waistlines under 40 inches (102 cm) and to incorporate regular strength training and proper nutrition into their routines.

The study also highlighted that combining hip circumference with waist measurements in women could offer a more accurate estimate of visceral fat. However, the researchers stressed that more studies are needed to explore how gender differences play into cancer risk.

As Dr. Osborn put it bluntly, "Visceral fat is silent, aggressive, and deadly. It’s doing damage even if your BMI is ‘normal.’” Moral of the story? It’s time to stop ignoring the tape measure—and start trimming those waistlines.