In some states, such as Kentucky and Missouri, nearly 30 percent
of residents smoke. These states have the highest cancer death
rates. In other states, such as California and Utah, smoking
rates are as low as 10 percent. These states have the lowest
cancer death rates. The obesity epidemic is also affecting
cancer rates in a very negative way. Indeed, obesity is the
second leading cause of cancer. More than a dozen cancers --
from breast and prostate cancer to pancreatic and colon cancer
-- have been linked to America's epidemic of high caloric intake
and lack of physical activity. While 15 percent of adults were
obese in 1970, more than 35 percent were obese in 2010. Even
more concerning, 4 percent of children aged 6 to 11 were obese
in 1970; 20 percent of that group were obese in 2010. While
overall there is a significant decline in cancer mortality, the
obesity epidemic is continuing to push the cancer mortality rate
upward. A substantial proportion of Americans do not receive the
high-quality preventive a