Cancer and Obesity

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Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk of 13 types of cancer. These cancers account for about 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States in 2014. Overall, the rate of new cancer cases has decreased since the 1990s, but increases in overweight and obesity-related cancers are likely slowing this progress. More than half of Americans don’t know that overweight and obesity can increase their risk for cancer.

What’s happening?

  • A higher proportion of Americans are overweight or have obesity than several decades ago.

  • Overweight and obesity can cause changes in the body that lead to cancer, such as increases in levels of certain hormones and inflammation.

What are those 13 types of Cancer?

  • Meningioma (cancer in the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord)

  • Thyroid

  • Breast (post-menopausal women)

  • Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

  • Multiple myeloma (cancer of blood cells)

  • Liver

  • Gallbladder

  • Kidneys

  • Stomach

  • Pancreas

  • Uterus

  • Colon and rectum

  • Ovaries

Prevention Tips:

  • Avoid tobacco and maintain a healthy weight are among the most important things people can do to lower their risk of getting cancer

  • Go walking

  • Take a bike ride

  • Increase healthy food consumption

  • Encourage your family to limit screen time

  • Measure your weight, height, and body mass index, and work on keeping a healthy weight

The staff and board of Shingletown Medical Center encourage you to take care of your health.

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