CDC recently
released ‘vital signs’ have reported that being obese or overweight puts you at
increased risk of 13 different cancers. These cancers constitute about 40% of
all burden of cancer incidence in US. In 2014,
approximately 631,000 persons in the United States received a diagnosis of a
cancer associated with overweight and obesity.
Endometrial,
ovarian, and postmenopausal female breast cancers accounted for 42% of new
cases of overweight-and obesity-related cancers in 2014.
A review of
data from 2005-2014 revealed that incidence of many of these cancers have increased
by 7% in last 10 years, except colorectal cancers. Nearly 30% of US adult weigh
more than what’s recommended and 50% do not have any idea that being overweight
puts them at risk for these cancers.
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| CDC fact sheet |
The obesity
related cancers are adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, cancers of the breast [in
postmenopausal women], colon and rectum, endometrium, gallbladder, gastric
cardia, kidney, liver, ovary, pancreas, and thyroid; meningioma; and multiple
myeloma.
On the other
hand, non-obesity related cancers are down by 13%.
These
obesity related cancers constitute nearly half of all the cancers in women and quarter
of all cancers in men.
This finding
has important public health implications as the burden can be considerably
reduced by making a change in lifestyle and behaviors.
Multiple
level interventions into policy, systems, and environmental changes that
promote physical activity and healthy food options in communities
The CDC’s
National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program supports comprehensive cancer
control efforts, including environmental approaches that promote physical
activity and healthy food options in communities.
To start with everyone can:
Eat a healthy diet by following the
2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Do at least 150 minutes of moderate
intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, every week.
Talk to your primary healthcare
provider about losing weight.
