The American Cancer Society has conducted the largest epidemiological study of obesity and site-specific malignancies. Through the last follow-up year, the study was successful in tracing 93 percent of the 1 million individuals in the long-term prospective study. Men who were 40% or more overweight had a 73% higher incidence of cancer. Women had as high as a 400% incidence of cancer occurring. Site-specific ratios are shown in the table below:
CANCER RELATIVE TO WEIGHT
| % Overweight | ||||
| 10 – 20% | 20 – 30% | 30 – 40% | 40% plus | |
| Site of Cancer | Increased Incidence of Cancer | |||
| MALE | ||||
| Colon, Rectum | ---- | ---- | 50% | 71% |
| Prostate | ---- | 27% | 31% | 35% |
| FEMALE | ||||
| Endometrium (Lining for the Uterus) |
37% | 83% | 173% | 435% |
| Uterus, Unspecified | ---- | 38% | 79% | 360% |
| Cervix | ---- | 44% | 48% | 130% |
| Ovary | ---- | 15% | 35% | 60% |
| Gall Bladder | 61% | 76% | 83% | 249% |
| Breast | 5% | 11% | 22% | 51% |