Editor’s Note (September 2026): This article was originally published in 2022 and reflects the research and scientific context available at that time. It has been reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and formatting. The original publication date and historical context have been preserved.
Key Takeaways
- A large systematic review and meta-analysis found an association between greater adult height and an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
- In one analysis, every 10-cm (about 4-inch) increase in height was associated with a 14% higher hazard of colorectal cancer.
- The study found an association, not proof that being tall causes colorectal cancer, and it did not establish that taller adults should undergo earlier or more frequent screening.
Colon Cancer
A large analysis led by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that greater adult height may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and colorectal adenomas, which are growths that can sometimes develop into cancer.
Published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the study combined evidence from dozens of previous observational studies and also included data from the Johns Hopkins Colon Biofilm Study.
Height as a Potential Risk Factor
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 observational studies involving 280,644 colorectal cancer cases and 14,139 colorectal adenoma cases.
Among studies that evaluated colorectal cancer incidence according to increases in height, the researchers found that every 10-cm increase in adult height was associated with a 14% higher hazard of colorectal cancer in the hazard-ratio analysis.
When researchers compared people in the highest and lowest height categories, the hazard-ratio studies found that the tallest individuals had a 24% higher risk of colorectal cancer than the shortest individuals.
The researchers also found a smaller association between height and colorectal adenomas. Across four studies, every 10-cm increase in height was associated with approximately 6% higher odds of developing an adenoma.
These findings remained significant in analyses that accounted for a range of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral and other established colorectal cancer risk factors.
Why Might Height Be Associated With Cancer?
The study does not establish why taller adults appear to have a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
One possible explanation proposed by researchers is that taller people generally have more cells and larger organs. Greater numbers of cells and more cell divisions over a lifetime could theoretically provide more opportunities for mutations that contribute to cancer.
Biological factors that influence growth and adult height may also be involved. However, these possible explanations remain hypotheses, and the study does not demonstrate that height itself directly causes colorectal cancer.
What Does This Mean for Screening?
Height is a non-modifiable characteristic, unlike certain colorectal cancer risk factors related to lifestyle.
The researchers suggested that adult height deserves further consideration when evaluating colorectal cancer risk. However, the findings do not establish a specific height at which a person’s screening schedule should change.
Current screening decisions should therefore continue to follow established medical guidelines and take into account recognized factors such as age, family history, personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomas, and certain underlying medical conditions.
More research is needed before height could be incorporated into clinical screening recommendations.
Final Thoughts
This large meta-analysis strengthens previous evidence of an association between greater adult height and colorectal cancer risk. The researchers found that increasing height was associated with progressively higher risk, even after accounting for several other known risk factors.
However, being tall does not mean that a person will develop colorectal cancer, nor does this study demonstrate that height causes the disease. The findings instead suggest that adult height may be one additional factor worth investigating when researchers assess colorectal cancer risk.
Most importantly, the study alone does not justify earlier or more frequent colorectal cancer screening solely because someone is tall. Patients should follow established screening recommendations and discuss their individual risk factors with a healthcare professional.
Reference
Zhou, E., Wang, L., Santiago, C. N., Nanavati, J., Rifkin, S., Spence, E., Hylind, L. M., Gills, J. J., La Luna, L., Kafonek, D. R., Cromwell, D. M., Drewes, J. L., Sears, C. L., Giardiello, F. M., & Mullin, G. E. (2022). Adult-attained height and colorectal cancer risk: A cohort study, systematic review, and meta-analysis. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 31(4), 783–792. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0398