Soaring Obesity ‘Will Cause Cancer Time Bomb’

Urgent action is needed to prevent a “cancer time bomb” exploding as a result of soaring obesity rates, a leading specialist warns today.

Research shows that up to 40 per cent of cancers can be prevented through diet and exercise but most people fail to take these steps, according to Dr Greg Martin, the science and research manager at the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

At the launch of the WCRF’s Cancer Prevention Week, which starts today, Dr Martin will say many people still do not appreciate the strong link between obesity and cancer.

Dr Martin said: “People getting fatter will lead to an increase in the number of cancer cases as surely as night follows day.

”You also have to add into the mix that cancer is largely an older person’s disease, and the UK has an ageing population.

“So, if you have an ageing population that is getting more obese, there could be really serious consequences in terms of the number of people getting cancer if people do not act now. It’s a cancer time bomb.”

Figures show that Britain’s population is fattening up at an alarming rate.

Three years ago 4.3 million British men were estimated to be obese, which is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more.

By 2010, it is expected that 6.6 million will be obese – an increase of more than 50 per cent.

Dr Martin said: “It’s a huge chunk of the population. Each of these 6.6 million people are going to have an increased risk of cancer, but this is an avoidable risk factor. This kind of increase cannot be explained by anything genetic.

”It’s almost certainly a function of behaviour. It’s something we can do something about.”

How being obese can trigger the development of cancers is still poorly understood.

Experts believe hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer and endometrial cancer – cancer of the womb lining – are sometimes set off by obesity, because excess fat can alter levels of hormones such as oestrogen.

Dr Martin described the increase of cancer over time as being like “an epidemic” which is spreading as people become more sedentary and eat less healthily.

He said: “When you look at a series of maps it’s really like an epidemic, a virus spreading. In a lot of ways behaviour is communicable. All over the world people are starting to adopt the same kind of eating pattern. The frustrating thing is that people can make simple changes to their lifestyle to reduce their chances of getting cancer.

“But ultimately each person has to make that commitment and at the moment too many people are dying because they are not taking any action.

“It really is as simple as eating more healthily, making sure your portion size is not too big, and taking regular exercise.

”When you think about what a devastating disease cancer is, it really is worth taking these simple steps because they can make a big difference.”