New research shows a correlation between a high childhood BMI and colorectal cancer in adulthood. It is important to live a preventative life style when it comes to obesity and cancer FirstHealth offers cancer treatment to patients in the Pinehurst, Raeford, Sanford, Rockingham, Lumberton, Laurinburg and Troy areas of North Carolina and beyond.

1. Childhood Obesity Could Increase Risk of Cancer
Many conversations this year, an election year, have turned to politics. Discussions about the war, debt
and unemployment are everywhere. Some people complain about the 8% unemployment rate of
Americans and try and point fingers. 8% of working Americans equals 12.5 million people! People are
astonished and outraged and are urging for that number to lower. Little do they know that there is the
same about of kids, 12.5 million, ages 2-19 who are obese. You don’t see that conversation everywhere.
(Source: CDC: Childhood
Overweight and Obesity)
The childhood obesity rate has
increased by threefold in the
last three decades. 4.2% of
children ages 6-11 in the 1960’s
were obese compared to the
19.6% of children the same age
in 2008. (Source: CDC:
Childhood Overweight and
Obesity) Childhood obesity can
cause many long-term health
problems for the adolescents
including, low self-esteem,
sleep apnea, high blood
pressure, diabetes, heart
disease, and even cancer.
(Source: AMA: Childhood
Obesity)
New research from Tel Aviv University has revealed that obesity during childhood can increase the
chance of cancer by 50%. Dr. Ari Shamiss and Dr. AdiLeibra of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and
Sheba Medical Center and his fellow researchers found that children with a Body Mass Index (BMI) in
the 85th percentile or higherhave an increased risk of urothelial (bladder and urinary tract) and
colorectal cancers in adulthood.
The researchers conducted a longitudinal study of a cohort of 1.1 million males in the Isearli Defense
forces whose health information was gathered by the army, with a follow-up period of 18 years. With
this information the research discovered a clear link between childhood BMI and those who were
diagnosed with urothelial or colorectal cancers later in life. Further research is need to find out why and
to find out the correlation between obesity and other cancers. It is important to live a preventative
lifestyle when it comes to cancer and obesity. Eating healthier and increasing you knowledge of obesity
and cancer risk factors are important.

2. To start conquering obesity during adolescent,FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital has a Health and
Fitness Center available that offers personal trainers, fitness coaches and licensed dietitians to help
guide kids in the right direction.
Let FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital be your source of knowledge when it comes to weight loss
including weight-loss surgeries. Partnered with Pinehurst Surgical, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital
treats patients from the Pinehurst, Sanford, Raeford, Lumberton, Laurinburg, Troy and Rockingham
regions of North Carolina and beyond.