Half a million new cancers in 2012 due to overweight and obesity

A new study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), shows that nearly half a million new cancer cases per year can be attributed to high body mass index (BMI). The study highlights that overweight and obesity have become a major risk factor, responsible for an estimated 3.6% (481 000) of all new cancer cases in 2012. The study highlights that the proportion of cancers related to obesity is higher in women than in men, with population attributable fractions of 5.3% and 1.9%, respectively. Read more here.