Oncology & Cancer

Obesity is increasing people's risk of cancer. Why?

Obesity is now a global epidemic, and it is increasing people's risk for cancer. The National Cancer Institute lists more than a dozen cancers that are associated with overweight and obesity. But how obesity increases cancer ...

Overweight & Obesity

Is child obesity really going to shorten lives?

Rising life expectancy is one of the great success stories. If you were born in 1870, you'd expect to live until you were 30. But if you were born today, you'd expect to live to 72, and the UN predicts it will continue to ...

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Overweight

Overweight is often used interchangeably with pre-obese and is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary. As much as 64% of the United States adult population is considered either overweight or obese, and this percentage has increased over the last four decades.

Excess weight has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults being either overweight or obese. Increases have been observed across all age groups.

A healthy body requires a minimum amount of fat for the proper functioning of the hormonal, reproductive, and immune systems, as thermal insulation, as shock absorption for sensitive areas, and as energy for future use. But the accumulation of too much storage fat can impair movement and flexibility, and can alter the appearance of the body.

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