Obesity Paradox: Does extra weight boost cancer survival?

A surprising new study has found that obesity might improve survival chances for some patients with head and neck cancer. Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center analysed data from 166 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients who received immunotherapy treatment.

The study, published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, contends that patients with obesity had better overall survival rates at 6 months, 3 years, and 5 years compared to patients with normal body mass index (BMI). Further, obese patients were less likely to require feeding tubes or tracheostomies, hinting at better functional outcomes.

These findings challenge conventional wisdom about obesity and cancer. While obesity is generally considered a risk factor for many health problems, this study adds to growing evidence of an "obesity paradox" in cancer treatment. Similar trends have been observed in other cancers, including renal and skin cancers, particularly for patients receiving immunotherapy.

However, researchers have highlighted the need for a deep investigation towards comprehending the exact mechanisms underlying the results, as also the intricacies of the seemingly elusive relationship between body weight and cancer treatment outcomes. This study was focused on patients receiving a type of immunotherapy known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, but it is pertinent to note that other studies have reported worse outcomes for obese patients with head and neck cancers who did not receive immunotherapy.

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