It's called an epidemic in America.

34 percent of us are overweight-another 30 percent are obese.

We found out today (Tues.) about the serious health effects and how some people are fighting the battle of the bulge.

New research shows the risk of cancer, diabetes and other diseases are much higher for those overweight. Some folks have decided to fight back with a dose of old fashioned fitness.

A new survey published in The Lancet (a medical publication) concludes obesity can double the risk of even more kinds of cancer than previously thought.

Oncology dietitian Shelly Kokkeler of the Willamette Valley Cancer Center tells KVAL, "About 30% of cancers today are probably related to a combination of obesity, lack of physical activity and diet."

For men it includes a higher risk of cancer of the esophagus, leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma--along with thyroid and colon cancers. In women, obesity triggers a higher risk for kidney and gall bladder cancer.

For the worst cases, bariatric surgery is an option, either a gastric by-pass or the use of a lap band. Dr. Tom Umbach of the Oregon Bariatric Center shows how it works. "It's a ring, a choke around the stomach if you will. It creates this little pouch up top and this is what fills up with a small amount of food."

Or you attack the waistline by taking your workout to the next level.

"It's old fashioned push-ups, pull-ups, hard core exercises that we've tried to avoid over the years," explains trainer Matt Moberg at Courtsports in west Eugene.

It's full body integration exercises-FBI for short.
Moberg also calls it "Athlete Based Training" and uses none of the usual
body builder machines.

"It's a chest exercise. Flex the pecs to drive you up," says Moberg as he guides the class through variations of the push-up.

Moberg continues and says, "Harry's looking good; he's got a good stance. He's going after it." It's one exercise after another, with only 30 seconds of break time. Harry Cardoza is in for the full 13 weeks.

Cardoza says, "But the top benefits, I don't have an option. I'm diagnosed as a diabetic type-2, so diet and exercise are the easiest solution for me."

One of the principles of Full Body Integration is overload; you must go to the limit. Reporter Tom Adams has reached his.

"There you go; ok there it is. We've got our first crash victim," says Moberg, as Adams reaches the end of push-ups.

The class is offered at Courtsports but again, it's not for everybody.

Trainers say the fitness class is run five days a week.

One piece of good news from the research--extra weight does not signal a higher risk for prostate cancer in men or lung cancer in men and women.