According to statistics, nearly a third of Americans are overweight, whereas more than 26 percent are obese. Extra pounds can lead to many health problems.

Recent study conducted at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has shown that obesity is responsible for more than 100,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year.

It is estimated that 1.47 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and more than 562,000 will lose their life due to cancers.

Out of these, five percent cancers will be due to hereditary factors. However environmental factors will account for 75-80 percent of cancer cases and deaths. Obesity falls under the category of environmental factors.

Research team was able to calculate the exact percentage of specific cancers that are caused due to obesity. Around 49 percent cases of endometrial (uterine) cancers; 35 percent of esophageal cancer; 28 percent of pancreatic cancer; 24 percent of kidney cancer; 21 percent of gallbladder cancer; 17 percent of breast cancer; and 9 percent of colon cancer can be prevented if people maintain healthy body weight.

Glen Weldon, the American Institute for Cancer Research educational director said, “This is the first time that we’ve put real, quantifiable case numbers on obesity-related cancers.”