Excess Weight
Men and women who are overweight or obese face an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Men, especially those who amass extra pounds around their midsection, are the most vulnerable.
Increasing rates of colorectal cancer among younger people may also be due to rising obesity rates.
A meta-analysis of 66 studies, published in 2024, concluded that overweight and obesity carry an overall increased risk factor for colorectal cancer of 36 percent, which might be slightly more pronounced for men.
A Sedentary Lifestyle
There’s a solid body of evidence connecting a sedentary lifestyle with an increase in colorectal cancer risk and rectal cancer risk.
A cross-sectional study published in 2022 of more than 33,000 participants found an association between sedentary behavior and colorectal cancer risk. The study concluded that colorectal cancer risk was higher among people who practice sedentary behaviors in addition to lacking any physical activity.
A Meat-Heavy Diet
Research associates diets high in red and processed meat (certain lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages) with an increased risk of colorectal cancer among other forms of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Furthermore, processed meat is a carcinogen and red meat is a probable carcinogen. Carcinogens are substances highly associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Research supports the notion that lowering your intake of red meat can likewise lower your risk of colorectal cancer. A study published in 2025 concluded that replacing red meat with white meat was associated with a lower incidence of colorectal cancer. Processed meat carried a higher cancer risk than unprocessed meat as well, according to results.
Alcohol Consumption
Researchers have found an association between moderate to heavy alcohol use and higher risk of cancers of the colon and rectum. More evidence is needed to better understand whether reducing or discontinuing alcohol use can lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
Smoking
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