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| England faces “cancer time bomb” |
July 26, 2008
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The fact that England has the fastest growing rates of childhood obesity in
Western Europe is a ticking cancer time bomb, according to a leading cancer
expert.
Professor Martin Wiseman, Medical and Scientific Adviser for World Cancer Research Fund, has warned that the rising rates of childhood obesity could lead to an increase in the number of cancer cases.
He was speaking following news that a third of English schoolchildren are now overweight or obese
Prof Wiseman said: “The evidence that being overweight increases cancer risk has become increasingly strong in recent years and we now think that, after not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the most important thing you can do for cancer prevention.
“With this in mind, the increase in the number of overweight children is deeply troubling because the more overweight a child is, the more likely they are to be overweight as an adult.
“This means that unless things change, we are effectively sitting on a ticking cancer time bomb. This is because the more overweight the population becomes, the more cases of cancer we are storing up for the future.”
Despite there being convincing evidence that excess body fat increases risk of six different types of cancer, including bowel cancer and post-menopausal breast cancer, a recent survey commissioned by WCRF revealed that just 55 per cent of people are aware of the link between body fat and cancer risk.
Prof Wiseman added: “It is clear there is a long way to go in terms of getting this message across. But it is important that people understand the health risks of being overweight so they are then in a position to make informed lifestyle decisions.
“It is also important that we emphasise that, all other things being equal, the fatter you are, the higher your risk. This means that our advice isn’t a case of all or nothing and people who make even small positive changes will be reducing their cancer risk."
Ends
For more information, call Richard Evans on 020 7343 4253.
Notes to editors
World Cancer Research Fund has a children’s website that aims to get across the healthy lifestyle message to primary age children in a fun way. It has games, cartoons and competitions to help get children interested in eating healthily and being physically active. Children can visit the site at www.greatgrubclub.com
About WCRF
World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) raises awareness that cancer is largely preventable and helps people make choices to reduce their chances of developing the disease.
This includes research into how cancer risk is related to diet, physical activity, and weight management, and education programmes that highlight the fact that about a third of cancers could be prevented through changes to lifestyle. For more information on the charity’s work, visit www.wcrf-uk.org
The WCRF report, called Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, was launched in November 2007 and is the most comprehensive report ever published on the link between cancer and lifestyle. For more information, visit www.dietandcancerreport.org. |
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WCRF UK, 19 Harley Street, London W1G 9QJ - Tel: 020 7343 4200 - Fax: 020 7343 4201 - wcrf@wcrf.org
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