PARIS: Nearly six per cent of new cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2012 — some 800,000 cases — were caused by diabetes and excess weight, according to a study published on Tuesday.

Among the 12 types of cancer examined, the proportion of cases chalked up to these factors was as high as a third, researchers reported in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, a leading medical journal.

Cancers stemming from diabetes and obesity combined was almost twice as common among women than men, they found. And of the two cancer-causing agents, being overweight or obese was responsible for twice as many cancers as diabetes.

“While obesity has been associated with cancer for some time, the link between diabetes and cancer has only been established quite recently,” said lead author of the study Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2017