The rising burden of obesity-linked cancers in Saudi Arabia: a public health review

Obesity is a growing global health crisis with wide-ranging effects beyond metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. A substantial body of international evidence has linked excess adiposity to increased risk for various cancers. In Saudi Arabia, where obesity rates are among the highest globally, the relationship between obesity and cancer remains insufficiently characterized. This narrative review synthesizes global and regional literature on obesity-associated cancers, with a specific focus on the epidemiologic and research landscape in Saudi Arabia. A targeted search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and official databases from the World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and GLOBOCAN was conducted for English-language articles published between 1990 and 2023. The review highlights several cancers – postmenopausal breast, colorectal, liver, endometrial, kidney, and pancreatic – with convincing or probable associations with obesity. Alarmingly, many of these cancers also rank among the most common and fatal malignancies in Saudi Arabia, as shown in GLOBOCAN 2022 data. However, local research quantifying this link is limited. National cancer registries lack obesity-related variables, and longitudinal cohort studies are scarce. These gaps hinder the ability to implement evidence-based, obesity-targeted cancer prevention strategies. Given the convergence of high obesity prevalence and rising incidence of obesity-related cancers, urgent attention is needed to integrate obesity metrics into national cancer surveillance. Strategic investments in population-based cohort studies and registry reform are essential to inform tailored public health interventions and reduce the burden of obesity-related cancers in the Kingdom.