SynthesisInternational journal of colorectal disease2025
Evaluating the influence of the obesity paradox on survival outcomes in patients being treated surgically for rectal cancer-a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in International journal of colorectal disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Development and internal validation of a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma after liver resection based on the albumin-bilirubin score and triglyceride-glucose index.Translational cancer research · 2026Article
- The impact of obesity-related systemic inflammation on the efficacy, toxicity, and biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer: from mechanisms to clinical management.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundObesity is a well-established risk factor for rectal cancer development. The association between obesity and survival outcomes in those undergoing resection for rectal cancer remains unclear. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association between obesity and overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer with curative intent.
methodsA systematic review was performed as per PRISMA guidelines. Descriptive statistics (Fisher's exact test (†)) were used. Meta-analyses were performed using Mantel-Haenszel and generic inverse variance methods using RevMan version 5.4.
resultsTwenty-three studies with 22,520 patients were included (mean follow-up: 59.7 months). Overall, 18.5% of patients were living with obesity (4174/22,520). Obesity was associated with poorer DFS [60.5% (2289/3783) vs. 62.4% (9576/15,335), P = 0.029, †]; however, a non-significant difference was observed at meta-analysis [hazard ratio (HR): 1.12, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.90-1.40, P = 0.320, heterogeneity (I
conclusionOnce diagnosed and being treated with curative intent for rectal cancer, patients living with obesity exhibit similar survival outcomes as those living without obesity. This study refutes hypotheses that an 'obesity paradox' is protective for survival in patients with rectal cancer. Given the current obesity epidemic, this concept may warrant incorporation into preoperative counselling.
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