As kidney and thyroid cancers are increasing in adolescents, experts are looking at a possible link between the rare diseases and child obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in a nine-year period nearly 5,000 thyroid cancer cases were reported, increasing from almost six cases per million children to eight per million children by the end of the observed time period.

As for kidney cancer, 426 children were diagnosed with the disease, climbing from 0.5 cases per million to 0.7 cases per million during the research time, according to CDC.

Both thyroid and kidney cancers are linked to obesity to adults, reports The Associated Press, which is why doctors are looking at this new angle in the latest study.

The report was published today in the journal Pediatrics.