Cancer deaths linked to obesity have tripled in the United States over the last 20 years, according to new research presented at ENDO 2025, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco.
The study looked at over 33,000 cancer deaths that were connected to obesity. Researchers found a sharp rise in deaths, especially among women, older adults, Native Americans, and Black Americans. This trend is concerning and highlights the growing impact of obesity on cancer and health in the country.
Obesity is more common than many people realize. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 40% of adults in the United States are living with obesity. This condition is not just about weight; it is a complex disease affected by many things, including genetics, hormones, environment, and even early life development.
Dr. Faizan Ahmed, the lead author of the study and a doctor at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, explained that obesity plays a major role in increasing the risk of several cancers.
“Obesity is a significant risk factor for multiple cancers, contributing to serious health problems and deaths,” he said. “This research shows the importance of improving health screening and making healthcare more available, especially in underserved areas.”
Obesity doesn’t only raise cancer risks. It also increases the chances of developing other long-term health issues, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and serious kidney problems.
The CDC says that obesity is linked to 13 types of cancer. These include breast cancer (in postmenopausal women), colon cancer, rectal cancer, cancers of the uterus, gallbladder, upper stomach, kidneys, liver, ovaries, pancreas, thyroid, brain (meningioma), and multiple myeloma (a blood cancer).
These cancers together make up about 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
To better understand the impact of obesity on cancer deaths, Dr. Ahmed analyzed official death records from the CDC. His team studied data from 1999 to 2020 and focused on 33,572 deaths caused by cancers linked to obesity.
They discovered that the death rate rose from 3.73 to 13.52 per million people during that time. The increase was especially sharp among women, older adults, Black Americans, Native Americans, and people living in rural areas.
When looking at different parts of the country, the Midwest had the highest rate of obesity-linked cancer deaths. The Northeast had the lowest. On a state level, Vermont, Minnesota, and Oklahoma had the highest death rates. In contrast, Utah, Alabama, and Virginia had the lowest.
This study sends a clear message: as obesity rates continue to rise, so do cancer risks and deaths. It’s more important than ever to raise awareness, support healthy habits, offer early screening, and make sure people have access to the care they need—especially in communities that have been left behind.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods, and results showing daily vitamin D3 supplementation may reduce cancer death risk.
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