Obesity-related cancer deaths triple: What to know

Obesity-related cancer deaths in the U.S. more than tripled between 1999 and 2020, according to a study abstract presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in July. 

Using CDC data, researchers calculated age-adjusted mortality rates and annual percent changes of 33,572 obesity-related cancer deaths between 1999 and 2000. 

Here are five things to know from the study:

1. The age-adjusted mortality rate of obesity-related cancers increased from 3.73 per million in 1999 to 13.52 per million in 2020.
   
   Researchers noted that 47.7% of all obesity-related cancer deaths occurred within medical facilities.
   
   
2. The overall average annual percentage change of obesity related cancer deaths over the study period was 5.92%, with a 19.37% annual percentage change occurring between 2018 and 2020.
   
   Hispanic individuals had the highest average annual percentage change over the study period at 6.31%, and Black individuals had the lowest at 5.37%.
   
   
3. Women had an average age-adjusted mortality rate of 7.22 per million and an average annual percentage change of 5.37%.
   
   The average age-adjusted mortality rate was slightly lower for men at 6.59 per million, though the average annual percentage change was higher at 6.75%.
   
   
4. Individuals 65 and older had an average age-adjusted mortality rate of 20.82 per million and an average annual percentage change of 6.26%, over the study period.
   
   The age-adjusted mortality rate for individuals 65 and older peaked in 2020 at 41.54 per million.
   
   
5. The Midwest had the highest age-adjusted mortality rate of obesity-related cancer deaths over the study period at 7.96 per million, with an average annual percentage change of 6.01%.
   
   The Northeast had the lowest rate, at 5.7 per million, with an average annual percentage change of 5.56%.
   
   Vermont, Minnesota and Oklahoma had the highest age-adjusted mortality rates from obesity related cancers. Utah, Alabama and Virginia had the lowest.
   
   Average annual percentage changes of obesity-related cancer deaths increased within both rural and urban areas in the U.S. at 6.98% and 6.03%, respectively. 

Read the full study abstract here.