‘Obesity could be the new smoking’

OBESITY could overtake smoking as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, according to new research.

Smoking is the biggest avoidable cause of cancer, followed by excess weight, overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and sun beds, drinking alcohol, eating too little fibre, and outdoor air pollution, a study by Cancer Research UK found.

However, experts presenting the data warned that with smoking rates continuing to go down and rates of obesity on the increase, obesity could surpass smoking as the biggest killer.

Cancer Research UK chief executive Sir Harpal Kumar said: “Obesity is potentially the new smoking, if we’re not careful. My sense would be it’ll be some time in next couple of decades that we’ll see those two switch around.”

He said the landmark study demonstrates that prevention is the best way of beating the killer disease, adding that the Government could be doing “much more” to help people make healthier choices.

The latest figures, calculated from 2015 cancer data, show more than 135,500 cases of cancer a year could be prevented — equating to 37.7% of all cancers diagnosed i n the UK every year and rising to 41.5% in Scotland.

Smoking remains the biggest preventable cause of cancer — responsible for around 32,200 cases of cancer in men (17.7% of all male cancer cases) and around 22,000 (12.4%) in women. Excess weight is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer, with 22,800 (6.3%) cases down to being overweight or obese.

The research published in the British Journal of Cancer shows obesity causes 13 different types of cancer, including bowel, breast, womb and kidney, and more than one in 20 cases could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight.

Dr Katrina Brown, Cancer Research UK’s statistical information and risk manager, and the study’s lead author, said the public did not understand the risks of smoking until relatively recently, and it is hoped increased information and awareness will mean the same will eventually become of obesity.

Asked about accusations of fat shaming following an obesity-related campaign by the charity, she said: “We definitely need to change attitudes towards obesity.

“As a charity we have a responsibility to communicate evidence about risk.”

Sir Harpal added: “Leading a healthy life doesn’t guarantee a person won’t get cancer, but it can stack the odds in your favour.”

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