Are alcohol and obesity behind Iowa’s cancer rate?

In 2024, Iowa had a rate of 498 cancer cases per 100,000 individuals annually, behind Kentucky (the highest) by only 12 cases.

Lately, Iowans have been led to believe our high cancer rate is due to obesity and alcohol use. They may be contributing factors in some cancers, but a 2025 U.S. map that ranks alcohol consumption by state shows Iowa tied with Michigan in ranking 24th and 25th.

The highest obesity rates are in Arkansas, West Virginia and Mississippi at 40-45%. Iowa and 20 other states, — including all Midwest states except Minnesota — rank 35-40%.

Iowa ranks somewhat in the middle of the country in alcohol consumption and obesity yet is second in cancer cases. How can this be? Could it be the amount of nitrogen and other pollutants entering our water from intensive, unregulated agriculture?

A 50-State Food System Scorecard tool launched by researchers with the Union of Concerned Scientists evaluates how farming affects critical natural resources like water, soil and climate change. When comparing states across three closely related farm sustainability categories, one stood out — Iowa, which ranked 49th for ecosystem impacts and 47th for implementation of conservation practices, but 15th in federal funds received for voluntary conservation practices.

It seems to me that Big Ag and Iowa’s political leaders are misleading the American people, just as Big Tobacco and Big Oil mislead people about lung cancer and climate change.

Elaine Hughes

Independence