weight, has been shown to lower the risk of developing and/or dying from certain obesity-associated cancers (166-168). While further research is needed to elucidate whether bariatric surgery can effectively reduce the burden of all obesity-related cancers, identifying equitable strategies including lifestyle and therapeutic interventions to address obesity must certainly be a top priority for U.S. public health. Another effective intervention to reduce weight is through increased physical activity. Unfortunately, many U.S. adults do not meet the minimum recommended physical activity guidelines (see Sidebar 11, p. 43). According to recent data from CDC, only 25 percent of individuals met the minimum amount of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise in 2020 (170). This is concerning because physical activity can reduce the risk of nine types of cancer, with research indicating that, annually, over 46,000 U.S. cancer cases could potentially be avoided if everyone met these guidelines (see Sidebar 11, p. 43) (171). Reasons to Maintain a Healthy Weight and Stay Active Fifteen types of cancer—the adenocarcinoma subtype of esophageal cancer; certain types of head and neck cancer; advanced prostate cancer; meningioma, a low grade brain tumor; multiple myeloma; and colon, rectal, endometrial, gallbladder, kidney, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, thyroid, and postmenopausal breast cancers—have all been directly linked to being overweight or obese. Being physically active lowers the risk of nine cancers—bladder, breast (postmenopausal), colon, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, liver, lung, and stomach. There is growing evidence that physical fitness may also reduce the risk of developing additional types of cancer. Cancers associated with obesity are shown in red; cancers associated with physical activity are shown in light blue; cancers that are associated with both are shown in dark blue. Data from (156-162). Figure adapted from (163). Certain types of Head and neck cancer Meningioma Thyroid cancer Lung cancer Adenocarcinoma subtype of esophageal cancer Liver cancer Stomach cancer Gallbladder cancer Pancreatic cancer Colorectal cancer Kidney cancer Bladder cancer Multiple myeloma Prostate cancer Postmenopausal Breast cancer Ovarian cancer Endometrial cancer Cancers associated with OBESITY Cancers associated with PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Cancers associated with BOTH FIGURE 9 AACR Cancer Progress Report 2023 Reducing the Risk of Cancer Development 42
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