Obesity and Smoking
 

I am copying a "fast fact" from the latest version of the AICR Research update. I found this to be very eye opening. The impact of obesity on breast cancer recurrence (and initial diagnosis) is very significant and derserves out utmost attention.

Fast Fact
Obesity Ties Smoking

A new study found that obesity has now become an equal, if not greater, contributor to disease and shortening of a healthy life in comparison to smoking.
Researchers calculated the Quality-Adjusted Life Years lost after surveying participants through a set of questions on health-related quality of life, such as asking about recent poor health days. The researchers analyzed 1993-2008 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System that included interviews with more than 3.5 million adults.
Obesity rates have steadily and significantly increased over the years, as smoking rates have decreased. From 1993 to 2008, when the study data was collected, the proportion of smokers among US adults reportedly declined 18.5 percent while obesity increased 85 percent. Smoking had a bigger impact on deaths while obesity had a bigger impact on illness.
The study is scheduled for publication in the February issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.