Today we address weight and cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research, based on a study it completed, stated that obesity causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer in the United States each year — and the number will likely rise as Americans get fatter. The study concluded that having too much body fat causes nearly half the cases of endometrial cancer — a type of cancer of the uterus — and a third of esophageal cancer cases.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, beat out only by heart disease – also a condition created or enhanced by a person’s weight! It is estimated that 1/3 of Americans are overweight by definition and an additional 1/3 are obese. In other words, two out of three Americans are already primed as higher risk patients simply from a preventable cause.

Using the formula for determining body mass index, which is the standard for diagnosing overweight and obese patients, a person who is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds or more is defined as obese – not simply overweight, but majorly overweight.

The American Cancer Society projects that 1.47 million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 562,000 will die of it. Though not suggesting that all those diagnosed are overweight, the percentage is high and creates a prevention measure to improve a person’s odds of not developing cancer.

The research study combined its conclusions linking diet, physical activity and fatness with cancer risk with national surveys on obesity and cancer incidence. Based on those conclusions, types of cancers which may be prevented by people choosing to live healthier lives with diet, nutrition, and exercise include:

Endometrium - 49 percent of cases
Esophageal - 35 percent
Pancreatic - 28 percent
Kidney – 24 percent
Gallbladder - 21 percent
Breast - 17 percent

Researchers estimate that obesity-related diseases overall account for nearly 10 percent of all medical spending in the United States – a whopping estimated $147 billion a year. Diabetes is now in epidemic proportions – almost entirely due to weight. Diabetes II, which is weight-driven, is now being diagnosed at alarming rates in our children. Why? Statistics show that up to 40% of our kids are overweight or obese! We are setting up our kids – not just for failure, but for long-term illness and death for lack of exercise and overeating. We are watching weight, as we and our kids get bigger!

Our last alarming statistic for today is this: the North American will consume five times more than a Mexican, ten times more than a Chinese person, and thirty times more than a person from India. When will the madness stop?

Unlike global warming, these facts are undisputed. We are killing ourselves and our kids with food while burying them in on-going, rising healthcare costs – to them and to the entire nation.

This is a call to action. Set the example for your kids and we’ll all get healthy together!