Obese Teens More Likely To Develop Colorectal Cancer

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Obesity is a growing problem in young adults and now there is a report that suggests that obese teenagers are at greater risk for colorectal cancer later in life.

It is not a small study.

Swedish researchers looked at 240,000 men and found that obese teens were more than twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer, compared to normal weight adolescents.

We know that obesity and colorectal cancer are linked and this has been established in adults but we now have evidence that the risk starts at an earlier age.

Certainly the problem of obesity in young adults is a major health issue but this report shows us that we will be paying the price in overall health problems for decades as a result of the obesity epidemic.

We have already seen an association with diabetes and heart disease.