Anorexia and cancer risk

Dr Linda Calabresi

writer

Dr Linda Calabresi

GP; Medical Editor, Healthed

Dr Linda Calabresi

You’d think having anorexia nervosa was bad enough. But among all the negative effects it can have on your body, could it also increase your risk of cancer? Or does the condition perversely mimic the caloric restriction and fasting that have been demonstrated to benefit the prevention of some malignancies – meaning could it protect against cancer?

That’s what European oncology researchers wanted to find out through their systematic review and meta-analysis of a series of studies involving more than 42,000 people with the eating disorder.

The result was both encouraging and intriguing.

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Last chance - $155 special ends midnight Sunday!

This is your last chance to secure discounted registration to both national seminars before prices increase on Monday! You're invited to attend Australia's most popular seminars for GPs and healthcare professionals.

Upcoming Healthed Webcast

POTS – What You Need to Know

Tuesday 17th February, 7pm - 9pm AEDT

Speaker

Prof Dennis Lau

Cardiac Electrophysiologist; The Royal Adelaide Hospital; Clinical Professor, The University of Adelaide

Hear the latest evidence-based management options for POTS - a common, yet poorly recognised and misunderstood autonomic dysfunction condition in our community. Join Prof Dennis Lau for an update on POTS, who is at risk, presenting symptoms and how it can be diagnosed in the primary care setting.