In a study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers found that excess body weight increases the risk of second cancers among cancer survivors. They emphasized the importance of recommending healthy weight guidelines and heightening awareness of second cancers among physicians of cancer survivors.

Compared with cancer survivors whose BMI was in the normal range (18.5 to <25), there was 15% increased risk of any second primary cancer for those who had overweight, and a 34% increased risk for those who had obesity, with greater risk for obesity-related second primary cancers, including a 40% increased risk for those with overweight and a 78% increased risk for those with obesity.