Understanding the Obesity-Cancer Connection
Sixty-five percent of American are overweight or obese according to the latest figures from the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A recent AICR survey showed that only six percent of Americans know that overweight and obesity increase cancer risk. An earlier survey found distressingly similar results. AICR's new brochure The Facts on Weight Management and Cancer helps to clear up the misunderstanding.

Portion Distortion and Obesity
The new AICR report Awareness and Action: AICR Surveys on Portion Size, Nutrition and Cancer Risk shows that American awareness about portion size is growing, but the number of Americans who are actually doing something about the issue is not. Read a summary press release or a pdf version of the full report, Awareness and Action.

AICR has also observed a number of portion size issues.

• American portion sizes - in restaurants and at home - are out of control. A recent study explores the phenomenon of "Supersizing" and its likely role in the obesity epidemic.
• In another AICR survey conducted in 2001, Americans told us they were cleaning their plates - even when served oversized restaurant portions. We asked them again in 2003, and found little change. Read about the trended survey.
• The phenomenon called "Value Marketing" contributes to portion distortion, and to national obesity rates.
• Researcher Dr. Barbara Rolls spoke at our 2003 Research Conference about the science showing that portion sizes have a dramatic effect on consumption. Read about her work here.
• AICR experts took a look back in US history to uncover the roots of the uniquely American compulsion to eat everything in front of us. Read about the surprising beginnings of the "Clean Plate Club."
• We tested a random sample of Americans on the common serving sizes for various common foods. They flunked. They did a little better when they took the survey in 2003.

The Science Behind the Link
New research reveals how and why obesity increases cancer risk. Learn about the scientific theory that may explain why obesity influences certain cancers and not others. Read about AICR's thorough review of the current scientific literature on obesity and cancer.

Taking the First Steps
It's clear that managing your weight helps you manage your cancer risk. That means eating less and moving more. AICR's New American Plate program helps you get control of portion sizes while creating meals that are healthier overall.

Scientists have known for some time that getting regular exercise helps fend off obesity - and, indirectly, the cancers that can occur with it. Now, research is suggesting that exercise offers powerful protection, even from those cancers that don't have an obesity connection. Two different researchers, Dr. Christine Friedenreich and Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., urge regular physical activity as a primary means of fighting cancer.

Watch Your Waist Campaign
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) global network has launched the Watch your Waist campaign to counter the danger obesity represents at a world level. With this campaign, WCRF offices in the USA (American Institute for Cancer Research), the UK (World Cancer Research Fund UK), the Netherlands (Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds) and Hong Kong (World Cancer Research Fund Hong Kong) are working together to make people aware of the link between being overweight, obesity and cancer, and inform populations on ways to prevent their occurrence through maintaining a healthy weight.

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