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Introduction
Adopting or maintaining a healthy lifestyle after cancer has the potential to reduce both cancer- and non-cancer-related morbidity. Preventing excess body weight and obesity can enhance the length and health-related quality of life of cancer survivors, and it can reduce the risk of developing cancers that have been linked to excess body weight, including colorectal, breast (among women who have gone through menopause), uterine, esophageal, renal cell (kidney), and pancreatic cancer.
As the number of cancer survivors grows and expected survival time increases, the health behaviors of these individuals are becoming an important focus of attention. Examination of survivors and obesity is new to the Cancer Trends Progress Report this year.
Measure
Rates of obesity among cancer survivors are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history, who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). These weight groups are defined by a measurement called body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. For most adults, experts consider a BMI of 30 and over to be obese.
Healthy People 2020 Target
Although Healthy People 2020 has no target for obesity among cancer survivors, it does have nutrition and health status targets regarding obesity in the general population, including:
- Increase to 33.9 percent the proportion of adults who are at a healthy weight.
- Reduce to 30.5 percent the proportion of adults who are obese.
- Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are considered obese.
There is also a Healthy People 2020 objective to increase the mental and physical health-related quality of life of cancer survivors.
Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.
Data Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1992–2016.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
By Sex
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2016) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of cancer survivors | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Both Sexes
|
31.1 | 29.0 - 33.3 |
Male
|
29.9 | 26.6 - 33.4 | |
Female
|
32.0 | 29.2 - 34.9 | |
Compared to Remaining U.S. Population
| Overview graph | Age Group | Cancer Survivor | Remaining U.S. Population | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of population | 95% Confidence Interval | Percent of population | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Ages 18 and older | 30.9 | 29.5 - 32.2 | 28.3 | 28.0 - 28.6 |
Evidence-based Resources
Resources are available to assist cancer control planners, program staff, and researchers to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based survivorship programs. Visit Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T.- survivorship for data on cancer incidence, research syntheses, cancer control plans, research-tested interventions, interactive communities of practice, and other resources.
Additional Information on Cancer Survivors and Obesity
For the public
- Cancer Survivors Network. American Cancer Society.
- Survivorship: During and After Treatment. American Cancer Society.
- Take Control of Your Weight. American Cancer Society.
- Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Overweight & Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Body Mass Index Table. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- Treatment. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- Journey Forward.
- Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment. National Cancer Institute.
- Health and Well-Being After Cancer. National Cancer Institute, Office of Cancer Survivorship.
- Obesity and Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- Living Beyond Cancer. National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
For health professionals
- American Society of Clinical Oncology Obesity Initiative: Rationale, Progress, and Future Directions. Ligibel JA, Wollins J Clin Oncol. 2016 Dec 10;34(35):4256-4260.
- Screening for and Management of Obesity in Adults (June 2012). U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
- Screening for Obesity in Children and Adolescents (January 2010). U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Scientific reports
- Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999–2010. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kit BK, and Ogden CL. JAMA 2012;307(5):491–7.
- The role of physical activity in cancer prevention, treatment, recovery, and survivorship. Lemanne D, Cassileth B, Gubili J. Oncology 2013;27(6):580–5.
- Obesity, physical activity, and breast cancer survival among older breast cancer survivors in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort. Maliniak ML, et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017 Aug 31.doi: 10.1007/s10549-017-4470-7.
- The Role of Obesity in Cancer Survival and Recurrence: Workshop Summary. National Cancer Policy Forum, Board on Health Care Services, Institute of Medicine. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2012 Apr 3.
- Results of the Exercise and Nutrition to Enhance Recovery and Good Health for You (ENERGY) Trial: A Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention in Overweight or Obese Breast Cancer Survivors. Rock CL, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Oct 1;33(28):3169-76.
Statistics
- FastStats – Obesity and Overweight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.