Obesity is now as big a threat as smoking to raising cancer risk

OBESITY is “potentially the new smoking” and is set to become the leading cause of preventable cancers, experts warned yesterday.

Cancer Research UK said Britain needs to “act quickly” to combat the rising number of overweight people – and with smoking rates falling, obesity could be the largest cause of preventable cancers in just 15 to 20 years.

Scientists called for communications regulator Ofcom to ban junk food adverts before the 9pm watershed and urged retailers to reduce fat and sugar in foods.

Researchers warned 13 different types of cancer were linked to obesity and Cancer Research UK said more than 135,000 cases could be prevented if we avoided smoking, excessive drinking and maintained our correct weight.

Professor Linda Bauld, the charity’s head of behavioural research, said: “Our perception of a normal weight has gone up. What people regard as being large has increased.”

Cancer Research UK chief executive Sir Harpal Kumar described obesity as “potentially the new smoking”.

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He said: “Weight-related cancers are going up as smokingrelated cancers are going down.

“Like some of the other risks, there is a time lag between when you are exposed and when it manifests and you are diagnosed. It can be 10-20 years.

“We know advertising of junk food means children and teenagers consume more. So if we could make it so that they were only shown after the 9pm watershed, that would make a difference.”

Sir Harpal told the Daily Express the Government should introduce a range of measures to reduce obesity, similar to how it tackled smoking.

Nearly 23,000 new cancer cases are linked to obesity every year – around 13,200 in women and 9,600 in men.

Smoking is still the biggest preventable cause, with 15 per cent of cases linked to the habit. It affects more than 32,000 men and 22,800 women.

Exposure to the sun’s UV rays was the third biggest preventable risk factor, while drinking too much and eating too little fibre were also linked to some cancers.

Britain’s polluted air is blamed for 3,600 cases a year and processed meats are linked to more than 5,300 cancer diagnoses. Prof Bauld added: “The battle to conquer smoking-related cancer is far from over. But declining numbers of smokers show prevention strategies are working.

“Obesity is a huge health threat and it will only get worse if nothing is done. The Government must build on the successes of smoking prevention to reduce weight-related cancers.”

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, of the Royal College of GPs, said: “One message to get across is that living healthily does not need to be boring. Exercise can be incorporated into daily routines and can be made great fun and a valuable social experience.

“Likewise, there are exciting, affordable ways to enjoy healthier meals, allowing patients to reserve unhealthier foods as an occasional treat.”