Only one quarter of US adults are aware that obesity and excess weight can raise the risk of developing different types of cancer.

The study by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) listed several chronic diseases and asked 1,025 people to name the disorders that are influenced by overweight and obesity. While nearly 90% of Americans identified heart disease and diabetes, only 25% recognized the link between overweight and cancer.

And when asked to name major risk factors for cancer, only 6% of those surveyed listed overweight and obesity, while nearly 20% mentioned high-fat diets as a risk factor.

The findings, presented last week at a meeting of the International Research Conference on Food, Nutrition and Cancer, suggest that many Americans are not taking steps to lower their cancer risk.

Medical studies are finding that limiting weight gain can lower the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer and colon cancer, kidney cancer, endometrial cancer and esophageal cancer.

But rates of overweight have soared throughout the world over the past 20 years, as individuals have become increasingly sedentary while consuming greater amounts of high-calorie foods.

In the US, an estimated 60% of adults are considered overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 25. BMI is a measure of a person's weight in relation to their height. Adults with a BMI of at least 30 are considered obese.

About half of adults in Europe and in urban areas of some developing countries are now obese, according to the World Health Organization.

American Institute for Cancer Research July 11, 2002