Childhood obesity may increase bladder cancer risk

London: Adults who were overweight in childhood may be at greater risk of developing bladder cancer, according to a new study.

Published in the journal Annals of Human Biology, the study based on more than 315,000 children in Denmark, shows body size is associated with getting the disease later in life. A body mass index (BMI) increase above average during childhood, high/low birth weight and below-average height also increase the odds. Identifying causes that arise early on could lead to a new understanding of the disease which is the 9th most common cancer in the world, has high recurrence rates and is more likely to affect men aged over 65, the study said.

"These results suggest that the higher levels of overweight and obesity in children today may contribute to an increased burden of bladder cancer in future," said lead author Dr Kathrine K Sorensen from Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital in Denmark.

"Our study contributes to the understanding of how body size early in life may indicate a risk for bladder cancer," Sorensen added.

The link between bladder cancer and lifestyle factors such as obesity is already established. However, little is known about whether this association has its origin in childhood.The findings were based on information relating to 315,763 children born between1930 and 1989, and aged from seven to 13.