# Global and China burden and trend prediction of thyroid cancer attributed to high BMI from 1990 to 2021

**Authors:** Zhibo Teng, Yangfan Dong, Shaobin Duan

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1670286 · 2026-01-13

## TL;DR

This paper predicts rising thyroid cancer burdens linked to high BMI in China and globally from 1990 to 2031, showing higher rates in men in China but women globally.

## Contribution

The study introduces a comprehensive analysis of thyroid cancer trends and projections linked to high BMI in China and globally using GBD data and statistical models.

## Key findings

- Thyroid cancer burden due to high BMI increased in China faster than globally from 1990 to 2021.
- Globally, women had higher thyroid cancer burdens from high BMI than men, but in China, men had higher burdens since 2010.
- Projections show continued rising thyroid cancer burdens linked to high BMI from 2022 to 2031.

## Abstract

With economic development and lifestyle changes, the prevalence of obesity has increased significantly. However, limited research has investigated the trends in the burden of thyroid cancer attributable to high BMI.

This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2021) study. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to compute the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in age-standardized disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates (ASDR) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR). An age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to analyze the effects of age, period, and birth cohort on the burden of thyroid cancer attributable to high BMI. The ARIMA model was applied to predict the global and national disease burden from 2022 to 2031.

In 2021, the rates of change in DALY number, crude DALY rate, ASDR, death number, and crude death rate for thyroid cancer attributable to high BMI in China exceeded the corresponding global rates compared to 1990. From 1990 to 2021, the global burden of thyroid cancer attributable to high BMI was higher in women than in men, whereas in China, the burden was higher in men than in women from 2010 to 2021. The peak burden occurred in middle-aged populations, with the burden increasing with age. From 1990 to 2021, the ASDR and ASMR for thyroid cancer attributable to high BMI showed an upward trend globally and in China. Projections indicate that the burden will continue to rise from 2022 to 2031.

From 1990 to 2021, the ASDR and ASMR for thyroid cancer attributable to high BMI exhibited an increasing trend globally and in China. The burden was higher in women than in men globally, but in China, it was higher in men than in women from 2010 to 2021. The burden increased with age. Projections suggest that the burden of thyroid cancer attributable to high BMI will continue to rise from 2022 to 2031.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** thyroid cancer (MONDO:0002108)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** obesity (MESH:D009765), thyroid cancer (MESH:D013964)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12834813/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12834813