*EMBARGOED All research presented at the 2021 ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course is strictly embargoed until Sunday, October 24, 2021, at 3:30 pm EDT.
Oral 18 Effect of Weight Loss Surgery and Weight Loss Medications on the Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Author Insight from Zryan Shwani, MD, New York University Langone Medical Center
What’s new here and important for clinicians?
This study provides further evidence that obesity is a risk factor in the development of colorectal cancer but adds the important element that this is modifiable and equally reducible by way of weight loss medications or weight loss surgery.
Furthermore it highlights the responsibility we have to address this risk factor in our patients as we see increasing prevalence of obesity across all demographics. We should consider more aggressive weight loss strategies in individuals with obesity who are already at higher-than-average risk of CRC.
What do patients need to know?
Patients need to know that obesity is more than just a cardiovascular risk. We have shown here that there is significant associated morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer but they have multiple medical and surgical options to equally reduce this risk and live healthier lives.
Author Contacts
Zryan Shwani, MD, Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital, zes5 [at] case [dot] edu & Aakash Desai, MD, MetroHealth Medical Center, akdesai03 [at] gmail [dot] com
Media Interview Requests
To arrange an interview with any ACG experts or abstract authors, please contact Becky Abel of ACG via email at mediaonly [at] gi [dot] org.