Seunghee Han, MBChB1, Joseph Atarere, MD1, Eugene Annor, MD2, Boniface Mensah, MBChB, MPh3, Mariah Bilalaga, MD1, Ramya Vasireddy, MBBS1, Chisom Nwaneki, MD4, Henry Oneyaka, MD1, Michele Ryan, MD1, Christopher Thompson, MD5 1MedStar Health, Baltimore, MD; 2University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL; 3MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Baltimore, MD; 4Saint Peter's University Hospital, Johnson City, TN; 5Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA Introduction: Obesity is a growing global public health issue and a well-established risk factor for several chronic diseases, including cancer. Despite strong epidemiologic evidence linking excess body weight to cancer risk, public awareness of this association remains limited. Given the increasing reliance on social media for health information, this study aimed to assess awareness of the obesity–cancer link among U.S. adults and explore the role of health-related social media use in shaping this awareness. Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycles 2–4; 2018–2020), including 12,216 respondents. Awareness of the obesity–cancer link was assessed via responses to a standardized question. Health-related social media (SM) use was defined as engaging in at least one of the following: sharing health information on social networking sites, participating in online support groups, or watching health-related videos on YouTube. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of awareness, controlling for sociodemographic and health-related factors. Results: Approximately one-third (33.8%) of U.S. adults surveyed were unaware of the link between obesity and cancer. Health-related SM use was reported by 43.5% of respondents and was significantly associated with greater awareness [OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.41–2.06]. Specifically, watching health-related YouTube videos [OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.38–2.05] and sharing health information on SM [OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.01–1.67] were positively associated with awareness. Higher educational attainment and active cancer information seeking were also strong predictors. Conversely, Black and Hispanic respondents were significantly less likely to be aware of the obesity–cancer relationship. No associations were observed with sex, age, BMI, comorbidities, or income. Discussion: Despite the well-documented link between obesity and cancer, awareness remains suboptimal in the U.S., especially among racial and ethnic minority groups. Health-related social media use appears to be an effective channel for improving awareness, suggesting it may be a valuable tool for public health communication strategies. Future efforts should focus on leveraging these platforms to reduce disparities and promote cancer prevention through targeted, culturally competent education campaigns.
Figure: Table 1: Study population characteristics by awareness of the relationship between obesity and cancer, HINTS 2017 to 2020
Figure: Table 2: Prevalence of social media use and its role on awareness of the relationship between obesity and cancer Table 3: Factors associated with awareness of the relationship between obesity and cancer, HINTS 2017 to 2020
Disclosures: Seunghee Han indicated no relevant financial relationships. Joseph Atarere indicated no relevant financial relationships. Eugene Annor indicated no relevant financial relationships. Boniface Mensah indicated no relevant financial relationships. Mariah Bilalaga indicated no relevant financial relationships. Ramya Vasireddy indicated no relevant financial relationships. Chisom Nwaneki indicated no relevant financial relationships. Henry Oneyaka indicated no relevant financial relationships. Michele Ryan indicated no relevant financial relationships. Christopher Thompson indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Seunghee Han, MBChB1, Joseph Atarere, MD1, Eugene Annor, MD2, Boniface Mensah, MBChB, MPh3, Mariah Bilalaga, MD1, Ramya Vasireddy, MBBS1, Chisom Nwaneki, MD4, Henry Oneyaka, MD1, Michele Ryan, MD1, Christopher Thompson, MD5. P4827 - Awareness of the Association Between Obesity and Cancer Among US Adults: The Role of Social Media, ACG 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Phoenix, AZ: American College of Gastroenterology.
