Patients who underwent weight loss surgery were 76 percent less likely to get cancer for the 5 years following their surgery compared to people who did not according to a study presented on June 18th, 2008 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery by Dr. Nicolas Christou, director of bariatric surgery at McGill University.

Only 2 percent of those who had surgery were diagnosed with cancer during the first 5 years after their surgery compared to 8.5 percent of people who did not have surgery.

Patients in the surgery group lost an average of two-thirds of their excess body weight.

Five out of every six women in the US (84 percent) feel like they are overweight according to a nationwide survey in the US done by Meredith Corporation and NBC Universal as reported by the New York Daily News.

“Only 40 percent say they are satisfied with their physical appearance” according to a nationwide survey in the US done by Meredith Corporation and NBC Universal as reported by the New York Daily News.

Twice as many women are concerned about their diet and weight (56 percent) as are concerned about cancer (23 percent) according to a nationwide survey in the US done by Meredith Corporation and NBC Universal as reported by the New York Daily News.

A person with a body mass index (BMI) of 20—low normal—is 18 percent less likely to get bowel cancer than a person with a BMI of 25—high normal—according to a study from the World Cancer Research Fund as reported by the British newspaper the Telegraph.

Being overweight or obese is estimated to be involved in 14 percent of cancer deaths in men and 20 percent in women notes the report Storing Up Problems: The Medical Case for a Slimmer Nation by the Royal College of Physicians.

Obesity is involved in 30 percent of cases of endometrial cancer notes the report Storing Up Problems: The Medical Case for a Slimmer Nation by the Royal College of Physicians.

Obesity is involved in 10 percent of cases of colon cancer notes the report Storing Up Problems: The Medical Case for a Slimmer Nation by the Royal College of Physicians.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of esophagus cancer 2.9-fold in women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of kidney cancer 1.5-fold in women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of leukemia 1.5-fold in women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of multiple myeloma 1.3-fold in women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Multiple myeloma is “is a type of cancer of plasma cells which are immune system cells in bone marrow that produce antibodies” according to Wikipedia.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of pancreatic cancer 1.2-fold in women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma 1.2-fold in women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lynch nodes, which are part of the immune system according to the American Cancer Soceity.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of ovarian cancer 1.1-fold in women, an increase of 14 percent, according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of cancer 1.1-fold in women, an increase of 12 percent, according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of breast cancer 1.4-fold in postmenopausal women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Previous research has found that obesity does not increase the risk of breast cancer prior to menopause, in fact, it protects against it.

A difference of about 60 pounds increases the risk of colorectal cancer 1.6-fold in postmenopausal women according to a study from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

“Among postmenopausal women in the UK, 5% of all cancers (about 6000 annually) are attributable to being overweight or obese.,” concluded researchers from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England who analyzed data from 1.2 million women in the U.K. “Increasing body mass index is associated with a significant increase in the risk of cancer for 10 out of 17 specific types examined.”

“[A]bout half of all cases in postmenopausal women are attributable to overweight or obesity,” concluded researchers from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England who analyzed data from 1.2 million women in the U.K.

People who underwent weight loss surgery were 60 percent less likely to die from cancer during an average follow-up of 7.1 years according to a study from researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Women with type 2 diabetes are at a 20 percent greater risk of breast cancer than women without type 2 diabetes according to an analysis by researchers from Sweden.

The risk of multiple myeloma is 12-27 percent greater for those who are overweight and 27-82 percent greater for those who are obese compared with those who are normal weight according to an analysis by researchers from Sweden.

The risk of liver cancer is 17 percent greater for those who are overweight and 89 percent greater for those who are obese compared with those who are normal weight according to an analysis by researchers from Sweden.

“An increase in consumption of 2 cups of coffee per day was associated with a 43% reduced risk of liver cancer,” concluded an analysis by researchers from Sweden.