Worry about increased cancer risk from more weight

You know that just about everyone says 'watch your weight' and just about everyone knows it makes sense to be somewhere around a Body Mass Index [BMI] of  23 (20 is pretty skinny and above 25 perhaps too dumpy). 

This chart from the Lancet shows the increase in cancer risk as the BMI goes up. 

Researchers at England's University of Manchester analysed data [following this link will probably involve registering with The Lancet - free] from over 200 studies which had covered over 300,000 people and showed a steady upward trend in cancers with increasing degree of overweight. 

From 'worst' to 'least worst' the progressions in cancer risk from BMI from 20 (slim) to 40 (very overweight):

• Endometrial cancer the risk went up about 250% 
• Esophageal cancer the risk increase about 210%
• Kidney cancer the risk increase 140%
• Colon cancer the risk goes up 100%
• Breast cancer the risk increase about 50%
• Pancreatic cancer the risk goes up around 40%.

There were also gender differences within the number. Men can mostly rest easy with risks from breast and endometrial cancers. In women the impact of greater weight was mostly in increased risk of endometrial, gallbladder (not in chart), esophageal and kidney cancers.

In men the increased risk was with esophageal and thyroid (not in chart) cancers.

Too much weight - definitely something to worry about.