Though they are still finalizing the shift, once it is done, the recommendation will be adopted by doctors, insurance companies, and policy makers.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), while the majority of colon cancer cases are still found in people age 50 and older, 12 percent of the 147,950 cases—about 18,000—expected to be diagnosed this year will be found in individuals younger than 50. In fact, the ACS has recommended that colon cancer screenings for “average-risk adults” start at age 45 since 2018. Read on to discover some common colon cancer risk factors that you need to know, and for another cancer to be on the lookout for, These Are the Warning Signs of Lymphoma You Need to Know. If you are overweight, one thing you can do to lower your risk of colon cancer is shed some of those extra pounds. According to the Mayo Clinic: “People who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer and an increased risk of dying of colon cancer when compared with people considered normal weight.” And if you need some help on that front, here’s The One Secret Trick to Losing Weight You Haven’t Tried, Study Says. Type 2 diabetes and colon cancer share similar risk factors, such as being overweight and physically inactive. However, those risk factors aside, “people with type 2 diabetes still have an increased risk of [colon cancer],” the ACS says. “They also tend to have a less favorable prognosis (outlook) after diagnosis.” And to keep this deadly disease at bay, here are 17 Habits Proven to Prevent Prevent Diabetes. Like diabetes, having inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, can increase your risk of colon cancer, the Mayo Clinic says. And for more helpful health information delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. One of the most unhealthy things you can do is live a sedentary lifestyle. The number of problems doing so causes is endless and, according to the Mayo Clinic, that includes an increased risk for colon cancer. And for more on the risks of not standing enough, check out This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Sit All Day.