People with a history of being overweight (BMI = 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2) have a 6 percent increased risk of premature death, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Article by PCRM. Obesity increases the risk of developing or dying from several forms of cancer, according to a literature review published in BMJ. Researchers reviewed more than 200 meta-analyses focused on links between cancer indices and mortality. An increased BMI showed strong links to developing cancers such as colorectal, esophageal, pancreatic, and others by as much as 56 percent.