Rates of overweight and obesity have almost TRIPLED since the 1960s.
Overweight/obesity is known to increase the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer:
post-menopausal breast cancer,
colorectal cancer,
kidney (renal cell) cancer,
endometrial cancer,
thyroid cancer,
pancreatic cancer,
multiple myeloma,
liver cancer,
ovarian cancer,
adenocarcinoma of the esophagus,
gastric cardia (upper stomach) cancer,
gallbladder cancer, and
meningioma.
The link between overweight/obesity and cancer risk is complex and varies with the specific type of cancer, but is thought to involve increased insulin and hormone levels and chronic inflammation. While some overweight/obesity-related cancers, such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and kidney cancer are common, others are relatively rare.
The extent to which being overweight or obese increases the risk of cancer also varies with cancer site.
