Obesity is now linked to 32 types of cancer

OBESITY could be fuelling four in ten cases of cancer, a landmark study has revealed.

The stark roll it plays in the deadly disease is even greater than feared, according to research involving 4.1million adults.

Experts said obesity is now linked to more than 30 types of cancer – an increase from the 13 in which it is known to play a role.

They warned the ‘groundbreaking’ research which spanned four decades, shows the nation faces a devastating timebomb.

It found for every five-point increase in body mass index (BMI) - equivalent to gaining about three stone for someone who is a healthy weight - increased the chances of getting several common cancers by 24 per cent in men and 12 per cent in women.

The same increase was linked to 19 other cancers, raising the risk by 17 per cent for men and 13 per cent for women.

Health charities said it should serve as a ‘wake-up call’ to ministers and called for restrictions on junk food advertisements to tackle Britain’s obesity epidemic.

Katharine Jenner, Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: ‘The results are clear - if we can prevent obesity, we can prevent many types of diet-related cancers.

‘This should be a wakeup call to the UK Government/governments around the world, to urgently implement public health policies which will make a meaningful difference, such as restrictions on junk food marketing, and levies on unhealthy food. ‘We need to make the healthy choice the easy choice for everyone.’

Obesity

Scientists believe obesity may increase cancer risks through biological mechanisms such as chronic inflammation, alterations in metabolism, and changes in hormone levels.

Reduced participation in cancer screening programs and decreased efficacy of screening procedures in people living with obesity may also be factors. The study led by Lund University in Malmo, Sweden, involved 4.1million people with monitored weight and lifestyle for about 40 years.

Some 332,500 cancers were identified during this time and of these, there appeared to be a link between excess weight and cancer in 40 per cent of cases.

Researchers examined 122 types and subtypes of cancer in a study which tracked patients over a follow-up period of more than 100 million years.

In total, researchers identified 32 types of cancer with an obesity link, more than double the 13 types of cancer identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2016.