Overview

• The analysis synthesized data from 37 prospective studies published in the International Journal of Cancer to assess links between early‐life body size and colorectal cancer.
• Each 1 kg increase in birth weight was associated with a 9% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer later in life.
• Among 18- to 25-year-olds, each 5 kg/m2 rise in body mass index corresponded to a 12% higher colorectal cancer risk, with adolescents aged 10-19 facing a 5%–18% elevation per similar BMI gain.
• In children aged 2-9, each standard-deviation increase in BMI was linked to a greater likelihood of colon cancer in adulthood.
• With nearly 44,000 new UK diagnoses annually, colorectal cancer ranks as the country’s fourth most common cancer, underscoring the need for weight management from early life to strengthen prevention efforts.