The new analysis finds that 3.6% of the total global cancer burden is linked with high BMI.

Nearly half a million new cancer cases per year can be attributed to high body mass index, according to a new analysis conducted by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and published in The Lancet Oncology. (emphasis added)

High body mass index (BMI) is known to be a risk factor for cancers affecting the esophagus, colon, rectum, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, breasts, ovaries and endometrium.

The new analysis – which looked at data from 2012 – finds that 3.6% of the total global cancer burden is linked with high BMI, and that cancer due to overweight and obesity is far more common in developed countries than in less developed countries.

“Overall, we see that while the number of cancer cases associated with overweight and obesity remains […]