The association between high body mass index and gynecological cancers at tertiary cancer center

Background: High body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increase in cancer, especially female gynecological cancers like endometrium, ovarian cancers as well as breast cancers. There is an increase in obesity incidence worldwide including in Nepal. This is resulting in a surge in cancer in female population. Aims and Objectives: This present study was designed to evaluate the association between high BMI and female gynecological cancers in Nepal. Materials and Methods: In this hospital-based prospective study conducted at Birat Medical College Teaching Hospital, 385 adult gynecological patients underwent treatment over a 12-month period from 1st October 2024 to 1st October 2025. Demographic data, cancer stage, BMI status, and treatment outcomes were recorded in excel and data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods such as frequency, percentage, and mean by statistical software (SPSS Version 23, 2015). Results: Among 385 patients, 67.0% women were of young age (40–60 years) and 20.7% women were of elderly age (>60 years). Major bulk of disease was formed by breast cancer (54.2%), cervical cancer (23.6%), and ovarian cancer (16.8%). Almost 38.1% diagnosed cases were advanced stage. Treatment-wise, they received surgery (70.1%), chemotherapy (96.1%), radiotherapy (70.6%), hormonal therapy (38.9%), and palliative care (3.1%). 4.34% patients of high BMI cases left the treatment and there was 8.69% mortality in high BMI groups during the 1-year study. Conclusion: High BMI was associated with female gynecological cancers along with poor prognosis.