There’s no doubt about it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if you’re overweight, you’re much more likely to get cancer, according to a new report.

What does the report say?

The CDC’s study found that:

• About 40 percent of all cancer cases in the United States are linked to excess weight.
• Excess weight increased the likelihood of 13 cancers: brain, thyroid, multiple myeloma, stomach, esophagus, liver, postmenopausal breast cancer, gallbladder, ovaries, pancreas, kidney, colon and uterus.
• The rate of cancer cases has decreased since the 1990s, but weight-related cancer cases have increased significantly.
• Colorectal cancer was the only weight-related cancer that decreased over the study period due to an increase in screenings.
• About two-thirds of the weight-related cancers occurred in older people, while women were more than twice as likely to contract a weight-related cancer than men.

What did the CDC say?

According to the Agence France-Presse, CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald said the findings "are a cause for concern” because 71 percent of American adults are either overweight or obese.

"A majority of American adults weigh more than recommended — and being overweight or obese puts people at higher risk for a number of cancer. By getting to and keeping a healthy weight, we all can play a role in cancer prevention," she said.

What steps can I take to better prevent cancer?

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of ways to help prevent cancer, including:

• A healthy, balanced diet full of vegetables, fruit and essential vitamins
• Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding tobacco use
• Avoiding long stints in the sun, and using sunscreen when spending extended time in the sun
• Receiving appropriate immunizations
• Receiving regular medical care, including cancer screening
• Avoiding risky behavior: practice safe sex and don't share needles

(H/T: Medical Xpress)