Obesity is America's most notorious health hazard. As the obesity rate continues to rise, Americans become at risk of various illnesses. At highest risk, however, is America's Latino population. Statistics show that obesity among Hispanics has been on the rise for almost a decade, and the peril has become more evident in the state of Texas.

The most common type of liver cancer among Americans is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and it is even more common among Texas' Hispanic population. According to Voxxi, the cancer threatens to turn into an epidemic among Hispanics in Texas, particularly its large Mexican-American population. HCC cases among the Hispanic population in Texas has increased 90 percent from 1993 to 2007 with Hispanic males twice as likely to develop the disease and Hispanic women three times as likely when compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts.

Dr. Howard Monsour, hepatologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, raised the alarm about the rising health problem. He also correlated obesity and hepatitis C with the increase in HCC.

"Texas has one of the highest mortality rates for liver cancer in the United States," Monsour said in a press release. "We have one of the highest populations with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, and we are in the top three or four in cases of hepatitis C. It's hitting the Mexican American community very hard, especially in south Texas."

Though hepatitis C is considered one of the primary causes for HCC, it does not rule out obesity, lipid disorders and diabetes as causes as well, according to Voxxi. Mansour added that those with fatty livers were four times more likely to be diagnosed with the cancer. Yet, hepatitis C remains the largest cause, but it also proves to be elusive.

Hepatitis C, however, can take years to develop into liver cancer, which happens through extensive scarring and can take 30-40 years to develop into cancer.

"We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg," Monsour said. "Our goals are to raise the awareness of Texas physicians and the high risk groups to enhance early detection that we hope will lead to a cure or at least a liver transplant before it's too late."

Yet, prospects are not good for the Hispanic population. Overall, the Hispanic male population is 30.9 percent are obese, according to the Office of Minority Health. Hispanic women were 32.6 percent obese. Of these, Mexican Americans, which make up the largest percentage of Texas' Hispanic community, have greater percentages of obesity.

The Office of Minority Health compiled this data from information collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention until 2011. It found that between 2007 and 2010, Mexican American men and women were 36.3 and 44.6 percent obese, respectively.