Risk of Colon Cancer 40 Percent Greater for Obese

The risk of colon cancer would appear to be 40 percent greater for those who are obese, according to the recently released Annual Statistical Report of the American Cancer Society.

The link between cancer and obesity is "much weaker than, say, to smoking, but they affect important cancers, most notably, breast and colon cancers, said Michael Thun, the chief of epidemiology at the American Cancer Society (ACS).

"Obesity alters complex interactions among diet, metabolism, physical activity, hormones and growth factors," according to the report.

The generally accepted way to determine obesity is by body mass index or BMI. You can find your BMI by multiplying your weight by 700, dividing the answer by your height in inches, and then dividing again by your height in inches. The National Institute of Health standards consider a BMI of 25 overweight, and 30 or above obese. If you have access to a computer, you can easily find several fill-in-the-blank calculators on the Internet that allow you to enter your height in inches and your weight in pounds, or you may also use meters and kilograms.

. Other Sources: American Cancer Society