Obesity is a condition in which a person has an unhealthy amount and/or distribution of body fat. A scale known as the body mass index (BMI) is often used to measure obesity. The rate of obesity has been increasing throughout the U.S., and Iowa is no exception. According to the 2017 report called The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, Iowa has the 13th highest obesity rate in the nation. Since 1991, the percentage of Iowans with obesity has doubled from 15% to 30%, with one in three Iowans currently obese.

While most Americans are aware that obesity increases the risk for numerous health problems including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, only half of Americans are aware that obesity is a major risk factor for cancer. Scientific evidence exists linking excess body weight to higher risk of several types of “obesityrelated” cancers including:
postmenopausal breast, colorectal, thyroid, uterine, ovarian, esophageal adenocarcinoma, 
kidney, pancreatic, liver, gastric, gallbladder, malignant meningioma, and multiple myeloma.

















​In Iowa in 2015, there were 6,955 cases of obesity-related cancers that accounted for 40% of all cancers. The exact explanation for the relationship between obesity and cancer risk remains unclear, but it is known that fat tissue is highly active, producing large amounts of hormones like estrogen, insulin and insulin-like growth factors.

High estrogen levels have been associated with increased risks of breast, endometrial, ovarian, and some other cancers. Female postmenopausal breast cancer is the most common obesity-related cancer in Iowa and has increased by almost 30% since 1976.

In contrast, premenopausal breast cancer has not been linked to obesity and has not increased substantially. There is no simple solution to the obesity epidemic; it is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted approach. There are many policy, systems, and environmental changes that can help prevent and reduce obesity. The recently revised Iowa Cancer Plan includes “Increase efforts that support healthy eating, physical activity and healthy weight status” as one of the 15 goals to prevent and control cancer in Iowa.

You can read the complete ObesityRelated Cancer in Iowa report in the Cancer in Iowa 2018 publication at www.public-health.uiowa.edu/shri. The Iowa Cancer Plan by the Iowa Cancer Consortium is available at www.canceriowa.org.


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by ​Jim Geiger

My story began in August, 1999. I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had surgery to remove a mass by my thyroid. I didn't have chemo after my surgery, but had two different sessions of radiation. I still have several tumors in my body, but they aren't growing. I just continue with regular check-ups from time to time.

I knew the Lord was taking care of me. There were no problems.

Things were going well until July of 2017. I felt a lump in my left breast while I was taking a shower. I told my wife about it and she said I should get it checked out. I went to a doctor and a biopsy of the lump was taken. It was cancer! I had metastatic breast cancer as it had spread into my lymph nodes. They took out 6 lymph nodes and three of them were cancer. I then had chemo and 33 radiation treatments. The chemo was tough but the radiation treatments were a piece of cake. I'm now on pills and I go for regular check-ups. It's like wait and see how it goes.

Through all the struggles, I knew the most important thing in my life was that the Lord was always with me at all times, good and bad. He's still in control and I have no fear at all. No problems, no depression, no "why me", no sadness, no regrets. It's all because of my faith in Jesus Christ being my Savior. To me it's like a win-win situation. If the Lord cures me of my cancers, I'll be with my family, friends, and especially my grandchildren. I love them so much! If the Lord takes me, I'll If not cured, I’ll be in heaven with Jesus. What a glorious reunion that will be. No more pain, no more worries, just a very happy experience. So you can see, it's a win-win situation.

Thank you for reading my story about living with cancer. I pray that you too will experience the great joy I have with Jesus.