Are you an overweight American? This new study is sure to scare you skinny

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)