Climate Change and Cancer Risk: Connections with Physical Activity, Diet, and Adiposity

Abstract

Climate change and its environmental consequences have broadly influenced human health, including the direct effects of climate-related environmental exposures increasing cancer risk. In this review, we summarize evidence and make inferences on the indirect impact of climate change on cancer etiology through three interrelated cancer risk factors-physical activity, diet, and adiposity-and how these, in turn, may have downstream effects on cancer risk. Moreover, we highlight ways in which climate change will likely exacerbate existing cancer disparities through these three cancer risk factors.