Significant Rise in Obesity-Related Cancers Across the United States Over Two Decades

Recent research highlights a troubling trend: cancer deaths linked to obesity have tripled nationwide over the past twenty years. This study, presented at ENDO 2025—the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco—examines over 33,000 deaths from obesity-associated cancers, shedding light on sharp increases, particularly among women, older adults, Native Americans, and Black Americans.

The investigation, led by Dr. Faizan Ahmed from Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, utilized mortality data from the CDC. The findings reveal that age-adjusted mortality rates from these cancers have risen dramatically from 3.73 to 13.52 per million people within two decades. Regions such as the Midwest have experienced the highest death rates, while the Northeast has seen the lowest. Specific states like Vermont, Minnesota, and Oklahoma report particularly high rates, contrasted with lower rates in Utah, Alabama, and Virginia.

Obesity is a complex disease affecting approximately 40.3% of U.S. adults, according to the CDC. It results from an interplay of genetic, hormonal, environmental, and developmental factors. Besides its role in increasing cancer risk, obesity significantly raises the likelihood of developing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and kidney diseases.

The study emphasizes the association of obesity with 13 specific cancer types, including cancers of the breast (post-menopause), colon, rectum, uterus, gallbladder, stomach, kidneys, liver, ovaries, pancreas, thyroid, as well as meningioma and multiple myeloma. These cancers account for around 40% of all new cancer diagnoses annually in the U.S.

Faizan Ahmed's analysis underscores the need for targeted public health interventions such as early screening and better healthcare access, especially in underserved, rural populations. Addressing obesity's role in cancer could reduce mortality rates and improve health outcomes across the country.

For more details, this research was shared by The Endocrine Society. [source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-obesity-cancers-tripled-nationwide-decades.html]