<div><p>It can seem like every week there's <a href="https://www.shared.com/have-you-ever-eaten-bread-after-cutting-off-the-moldy-parts-heres-the-disgusting-truth-of-why-you-shouldnt/">new research about cancer</a>. There's a lot to remember about what to avoid and how to lower your risk, but researchers have found new evidence that changes everything you know about cancer.</p><p>For years we were told that smoking was the single biggest risk factor for developing cancer, but not anymore.</p><p>Now doctors say that <strong>having a high BMI (body mass index) or</strong> <strong>being overweight creates the biggest risk of developing cancer.</strong> Keep reading to find out why.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/1427434818908.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/1427434818908_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/1427434818908_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/1427434818908_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/1427434818908_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Fox News</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>We already knew that being overweight made you more vulnerable to developing <a href="https://www.shared.com/world-health-organization-urges-2042091868/">heart disease and diabetes</a>, but now doctors say being overweight actually encourages cancer cells to grow.</p><p>That's because inflammation, which is your body's response to any extra weight, helps cancer thrive inside your body. </p><p>Here's even more bad news: there's a long list of cancers that are tied to your weight, including <strong>breast cancer, uterine cancer, kidney cancer and colorectal cancer.</strong></p><p>Plus, packing on the pounds makes your body less sensitive to insulin, This leads to conditions like <a href="https://www.shared.com/american-scientists-might-have-discovered-the-cure-for-type-2-diabetes-2/">diabetes</a>, but also another group of insulin-related cancers.</p><div><div><div><amp-youtube height="9" width="16" layout="responsive" data-videoid="Ymsj3nF2EjM"></amp-youtube></div></div></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>According to Melinda Irwin, a cancer expert from Yale University, <a href="http://time.com/4761709/obesity-cancer-risk/">a third of all cancers are affected by "lifestyle behaviors"</a> including your diet and exercise levels. </p><p>Doctors recommend watching what you eat and exercising more often if you're trying to lose weight, and now you have some extra motivation to shed the pounds.</p><p>In a pinch, try focusing on <a href="https://www.shared.com/ease-cravings-for-sugar-salt-and-fat-in-3-easy-steps/">the sugar and fat in your diet</a>, which are the biggest contributors to stubborn belly fat.</p><p><strong>Share this post with someone you know!</strong></p><p>[H/T: <a href="http://time.com/4761709/obesity-cancer-risk/">Time</a>]</p></div>