Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Amjad Parvaiz, University of Portsmouth, UK
- Second opponent: Professor Malin Sund, Umeå University, Sweden
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Knut Magne Augestad, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Pro-Dean of Studies Magnus Løberg, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Senior Consultant and Associate Professor Sheraz Yaqub, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo
Summary
This doctoral thesis investigates the association between obesity in the Norwegian population and the risk and outcomes of cancer. It focuses particularly on the influence of Body Mass Index on various cancer types, with an emphasis on gastrointestinal malignancies.
Utilizing a cohort study design, data from nearly two million Norwegians, tracked over half a century, was analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models to estimate hazard ratios for cancer risk and mortality.
The results demonstrate that obesity markedly elevates the risk for 15 distinct cancer types, encompassing numerous colorectal cancer subsites as well as hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers. Notably, the data exhibit considerable variation based on age and gender, with early-onset obesity significantly increasing cancer risk, particularly among young women. Furthermore, women with high BMI have a worse prognosis, characterized by an elevated risk of mortality from the majority of the cancers analyzed.
The study underscores the need for targeted public health strategies to manage obesity and mitigate its associated cancer risks.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.