The risk of cancer from being obese is similar to the risk of cancer from using tobacco, according to the American Cancer Society, and experts suggest that obesity may soon surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths.

Being overweight or obese is associated with a higher risk of several types of cancer, including colon and breast cancer, and evidence suggests that being physically active can reduce cancer risks, especially for colon and breast cancer.

One-third of cancer deaths are related to diet and inactivity, and experts believe that about 186,000 lives could be saved each year if people made lifestyle changes.

To spur such changes, the society will launch the Great American Weigh In, similar to the Great American Smokeout, which began about three decades ago and encouraged people to quit smoking.

The Weigh In aims to establish a link between fat and cancer in the minds of the public, as a recent survey found that only one percent of participants knew that maintaining a healthy weight would also keep cancer risk down.

The program asks people to gauge whether they are overweight or obese by measuring their body mass index (BMI), a measurement of obesity involving height and weight.

Women will be a primary target for the society since they typically make decisions on what to feed the family and are also more likely than men to make lifestyle changes. The link between weight and breast cancer, which is the most feared disease among women, will also be a major motivator for women to maintain healthy weights, according to the society.

The Weigh In’s simplistic goal, measuring BMI, may trigger people to take other healthy steps. However, the program’s simple goal has been criticized by some who say a next step, such as a 30-minute walk each day, should be suggested. Other strategies include using law, as is the case with smoking (for example people cannot smoke inside many buildings). One suggestion for food would be to reduce prices of healthier food and raise taxes on higher fat ones.

Yahoo News February 17, 2003

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

With two-thirds of Americans either obese or overweight more people are beginning to understand the importance of optimizing the diet before changing other habits. The challenge, however, is that there are only a handful of clinicians who understand the truth about diet so it is extraordinarily difficult for them to advocate this issue. Controlling insulin is one of the most profoundly important things you can do to optimize your health and prevent cancer. Metabolic Typing allows insulin optimization to go to the next level as it allows you to fine-tune and optimize your homeostatic control mechanisms so that they work synergistically with low insulin levels to reverse cancers, and virtually every other physical illness, while optimizing health. While eating a diet of whole foods that are correct for your Metabolic Type is the ideal, there will be times when travel or a hectic schedule will get in the way of healthy eating. During these times, Living Fuel Rx is an exceptional meal replacement. It provides virtually every essential nutrient in a low-glycemic formula that does not cause an insulin response. Related Articles: Finally, Proof for My Assertion That Sugar is More Dangerous Than Smoking Cigarettes May Serve As an Antidepressant