Growing up we always associated smoking with cancer. We'd have the school assemblies to prevent us from lighting up. The packages of cigarettes had images of disgusting gum and tooth disease caused by smoking. And we all knew a relative or loved one that was a smoker and passed away from cancer. That could all change. Obesity could overtake smoking as the main cancer risk by 2040 in women and soon after in men. And with the pandemic this isn't getting any better. Since this time last year most people have put on a few pounds, are less active and eating more junk food. And when the food delivery services show up in our neighbourhood it's usually bringing fast food. Combine this with more people quitting smoking and it's easy to see how obesity will overtake smoking as a greater risk for cancer. So what's the big deal with obesity? Well fat isn't inert tissue that gets added to the body and has no effects. It doesn't just sit there quietly but is active. It sends signals to other tissues and organs that affect growth, metabolism and reproductive processes. When we are obese we are vulnerable to tissue damage and developing tumours. And there are least 12 types of cancer linked to carrying excess weight. Regular exercise is important for cancer prevention specifically breast and colon cancer. A recent study in the UK involved exercising mice three times per week for 30 minutes. These mice showed lower levels of inflammation, which can lead to the development of tumours. As well, the mice that exercised improved their metabolism, had less fat in their livers and moved more quickly. In the UK there are 135,000 new cancers per year (about 4 in 10) deemed to be preventable. Exercise can be a great way...

Have you ever heard the expression, what gets measured, matters? Or maybe some version of this expression?In business for example you need to know your numbers. Sometimes these 'numbers' are called key performance indicators or KPIs. Knowing your KPIs can quickly help you see the health of the business over time.Even if it's not in business there is value in knowing your financials. When Alexandra and I were first dating I remember watching a reality show at her place called, Til Debt Do Us Part. And the premise was a financial expert, Gail Vax-Oxlade, would show up and help couples in financial trouble.One of the first parts would involve Ms. Vax-Oxlade showing the couple on the show where the money was going. For example, a certain amount each month would be going to entertainment, credit card debt and bank fees as well as other non-essential indulgences.The couples would always look wide-eyed as the evidenced was presented in front of them. And at one point Ms. Vax-Oxlade would tell them how bad their financial situation would be in 10 or 15 years if they didn't change their ways. Sometimes this could be the couple owing over a million dollars and not owing their own home. How would you ever pay that off?Presenting the cold hard financial facts to the couple always worked to get their attention. And the rest of the episode was spent changing their ways. There was a financial bonus or reward, maybe a trip, for the couple that completed all the tasks set out by Ms. Vax-Oxlade.Now imagine if Ms. Vax-Oxlade didn't present the situation as dire as it really was. What would happen if the couple was told they were doing fine and there was no need to change their ways. Well they'd be screwed financially and probably upset...