Nairobi, July 26 -- A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has linked 13 cancers to excess body fat. WHO says people who are obese or have excess fat are at risk of getting breast, colon, stomach, liver and endometrial cancers, among other cancers.

Dr Andrew Odhiambo, a medical oncologist at Nairobi Hospital Cancer Centre, says there have been many studies showing the link between obesity and cancer: "In fact, we in the cancer community now call it the new smoking. It's almost as bad as smoking or being sedentary and not exercising."

How is obesity linked to cancer?

Dr Odhiambo explains that the main culprit is visceral fat, the fat stored deep around the abdominal area.

"This visceral fat promotes inflammation through...