BMI step aside. Your waist size is a better predictor for cancer risk in men.
Yes, this is a real study. We have started at Biohackr Health to measure “BRI”- body roundness index. What that does is look at your waist to hip measurement to see your health risk.
This study is out of Sweden, to be presented at the May 2025 European Congress on Obesity in Spain and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, where they followed 339K people for 14 years. Obesity is a known risk for cancer. During this study they found 18K people developed cancers (esophagus, bowel, liver, pancreas, breast, gallbladder and others). They then looked at the risk factors- age, smoking, weight, and others.
What did they find? Men with an extra 4 inches on their waistline had an increased risk of developing cancer by 25%.
They discuss how an increase in BMI of 3.7 also increased cancer risk by 19%, but this is less than the waistline measurement. (In women, BRI and BMI showed equal risk. So a 4 cm increase in waistline and a BMI increase of 4.3 were associated with 13% higher risk of cancer.) They state BMI does not reflect where the fat is distributed. Men are more likely to store fat in the abdominal area, where women gain fat more spread throughout the body.
So why the increase? They postulate that excess abdominal body fat increased the risk of cancer.
Our thoughts at Biohackr Health?
We keep seeing how interrelated all of these things are- weight, heart disease, muscle percentage, dementia, cancer. To be healthier addresses ALL of these at once.
It is interesting to see how body shape seems to be taking on more importance. We have known of the evils of “intra-abdominal fat,” “metabolic syndrome fat,” or “visceral fat.” This study shows objectively that it correlates with higher cancer rates.
- SEE YOUR BODY FAT/WHERE THE FAT IS. Do our InBody scan, and follow up to see what your interventions are accomplishing.
- BUILD MUSCLE. Try our creatine. We carry Creapure, 99.9% pure micronized German creatine powder. It is super safe and effective. We think all middle aged people, athletes, and vegetarians should be on it.
- LOSE WEIGHT. Need help after menopause? Over the age of 50? Always been fighting those genetics? We have a multi layered approach to weight loss- NAD, probiotics, glucose monitors, testing and hormones for those who need it, and GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Come in for an evaluation.
Don’t know where to start? We have a doctor visit (covered usually by your insurance) to walk you through your history and help create a plan. We have testing done straight from our clinic to look at your labs. This is preventative, individualized medicine. Optimize you- a better waistline is better for cancer risk, heart disease risk, and more.
