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)