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 Press releases & statements |
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| Landmark Report: Excess Body Fat Causes Cancer |
October 31, 2007
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People should aim to be at the lower end of the healthy weight range, according to a landmark report published today that links body fat and cancer more closely than ever before.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) report is the most comprehensive ever published on the link between cancer and diet, physical activity and weight. Searches at nine academic institutions across the world for studies published since records began in the 1960s initially found half a million – 7,000 of which were judged to be the most relevant and robust for inclusion in the report.
It includes 10 recommendations from a panel of 21 world-renowned scientists that represent the most definitive and authoritative advice that has ever been available on how the general public can prevent cancer. Unicef and the World Health Organization were among the official observers of the report’s process.
And its key finding is that maintaining a healthy weight (a BMI of 20-25) is one of the most important things you can do to prevent cancer. The number of types of cancer where there is “convincing” evidence that body fat is a cause has risen from one to six since the last WCRF report was published in 1997, including colorectal cancer and post-menopausal breast cancer.
Prof Sir Michael Marmot, Chair of the Panel, said: “We are recommending that people aim to be as lean as possible within the healthy range, and that they avoid weight gain throughout adulthood.
“This might sound difficult, but this is what the science is telling us more clearly than ever before. The fact is that putting on weight can increase your cancer risk, even if you are still within the healthy range.
“So the best advice for cancer prevention is to avoid weight gain, and if you are already overweight then you should aim to lose weight.”
Other findings in the report include:
There is “convincing” evidence that processed meats, including ham and bacon, increase the risk of colorectal cancer. People who consume them are advised to do so sparingly.
The evidence that red meat is a cause of colorectal cancer is stronger than ever before. People should not eat any more than 500g of red meat a week.
This figure is for cooked meat, and is the equivalent of between 700 and 750g of non-cooked meat.
In one of the first breastfeeding recommendations made by a cancer prevention report, mothers are advised to breastfeed exclusively for six months and to continue with complementary breastfeeding after that. This is because of “convincing” evidence that breastfeeding protects the mother against breast cancer and “probable” evidence that it protects the child against obesity later in life.
Dietary supplements are not recommended for cancer prevention.
The evidence that alcohol is a cause of cancer is stronger now than ever before.
Professor Martin Wiseman, Project Director of the Report, said: “This report is a real milestone in the fight against cancer, because its recommendations represent the most definitive advice on preventing cancer that has ever been available anywhere in the world.
“When individual studies are published, it is impossible for the public to put them into context and know how seriously they should be taking the findings. But the great thing about this report is that it does this job for them.
“If people follow our recommendations, they can be confident they are following the best advice possible based on all the scientific research done up to this point. These recommendations are not based on one study but are based on 7,000.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Fiona Adshead, who is in charge of delivering on the Government's obesity target, said:
‘We will examine the findings and detail of this comprehensive and useful report. We have already made progress in tackling obesity with improved physical activity levels at school, healthier school food for children, clearer food labeling and tougher restrictions on advertising foods high in fat and sugar to children – but we know that we need to go further and faster.
‘We want to see the positive work by the food industry continued with more and more retailers and manufacturers adopting the traffic light model to make it easier for people to make the right food chioices. We are encouraging the most sedentary people to get more active through pedometer schemes and some physical activity pilots based in GP surgeries.
There is no single solution to tackle obesity and it cannot be tackled by Government action alone. We will only succeed if the problem is recognized, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society. With new resources from the CSR we are planning a long-term drive for action on obesity. There is high-level cross-government commitment to tackling obesity, and we will provide the leadership, vision and sustained commitment required to help start this cultural and societal shift.’
Professor Mike Richards, the Government's Clinical Director for Cancer, welcomed the report in advance of his Cancer Reform Strategy.
He said: “The WCRF report is the most authoritative and exhaustive review done thus far on the prevention of cancer through food, nutrition and physical activity.
“For those of us wanting to lower our risk of developing cancer, the Report provides practical lifestyle recommendations. The Report also provides public health goals. Both will form an important element for the forthcoming Cancer Reform Strategy.” |
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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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