Researchers Find Height Can Affect Colon Cancer Risk

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A research team at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore has found height can affect a person’s risk for colon cancer – the third most common cancer in the United States.

According to Newsmax, researchers found taller people are at an increased risk for the disease and believe height should be a factor when it comes to screening for colon cancer.

Newsmax reports researchers at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore analyzed data from 47 international studies that included more than 280,000 cases of colorectal cancer and more than 14,000 cases of precancerous colon polyps.

“The findings suggest that, overall, the tallest individuals within the highest percentile of height had a 24% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than the shortest within the lowest percentile,” said study co-author Dr. Gerard Mullin, associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology in a statement reported by Newsmax.

The research showed that for each 3.9-inch increase in height there was a 14 percent higher risk for colon cancer – and a 6 percent increased risk of having precancerous polyps.

“This is the largest study of its kind to date,” Mullin said in a press release reported by Newsmax. “It builds on evidence that taller height is an overlooked risk factor, and should be considered when evaluating and recommending patients for colorectal cancer screening.”