Obesity, type-2 diabetes and cancer: Mechanistic insights

Abstract

Obesity leads to many diseases including hypercholesterolemia, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It is the fastest-growing lethal disease in the Western and developing countries. The link between obesity and cancer is relatively underappreciated among the general population. Obesity represents the number one risk factor for type-2 diabetes and a considerable body of epidemiological studies supports the relation-ship between type-2 diabetes and many cancers. In this review, we examine the obesity–type-2-diabetes–cancer relationships from a mechanistic perspective, and where appropriate, we highlight potential pharmaceutical and dietary interventions. © 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.