«
»

Top

Obesity 'to be linked to more female cancers' than smoking

Published 1 Oct 2018

Obesity 'to be linked to more female cancers' than smoking

Obesity is set to overtake smoking as the biggest preventable cause of cancer in UK women by 2043, a Cancer Research UK report predicts.

obesity

Currently, 12% of cancers in women are linked to smoking, and 7% to being overweight and obese.

But with the number of smokers falling and obesity rates projected to rise, the charity estimates that gap will disappear in 25 years time.

The figures assume that current trends will continue.

Cancer Research UK's projections calculate that by 2035, 10% of cancers in women (around 25,000 cases) could be related to smoking and 9% (around 23,000 cases) to carrying excess weight.

And by 2043, if those trends continued, being overweight and obese could be linked to even more cases of cancer than smoking in women.

Smoking prevention lessons

In UK men, obesity is not predicted to overtake smoking as a preventable cause of cancer until some time later, because more men than women smoke.

Although obesity is more common among men too, obesity in women is thought to be a greater driver of cancers in the female population.

The report says types of cancer linked to smoking include acute myeloid leukaemia, lung, bladder, bowel, cervical, pancreatic and stomach.

Cancers linked to being overweight or obese include bowel, gall bladder, kidney, liver, breast, ovarian and thyroid.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK's prevention expert, said the government must build on the lessons of smoking prevention to reduce the number of weight-related cancers.

She said those who were overweight in childhood were five times more likely to be carrying excess weight as an adult.

Recent figures show that levels of severe obesity during childhood have risen over the last decade in England.

'Act now'

"That's why we are raising awareness of the link between cancer and obesity and calling for measures to protect children, like a ban on junk food adverts before 9pm and for restrictions on price promotions of 'less healthy' products," Prof Bauld said.

She said the decline in smoking was a cause for celebration.

"It shows how decades of effort to raise awareness about the health risks plus strong political action including taxation, removing tobacco marketing and a ban on smoking in indoor public places, have paid off.

"But, just as there is still more to do to support people to quit smoking, we also need to act now to halt the tide of weight-related cancers and ensure this projection never becomes a reality."

Are you currently overweight or obese? Do you diet regularly or struggle with your weight?

3 comments


avatar
Unregistered member
on 30/04/2019

Oh wow I think I will have to look into this more 


JosephineO • Community manager
on 02/05/2019

@JeanMary1260 Yes, it is very interesting and eye opening! 


Tigger.co.uk
on 16/07/2019

I think obesity in children is through lack of excercise as children today sit with lap tops mobile phones etc today you never see children riding bikes playing outside kicking a ball or going out side at all junk food is all kids want today we never had microwave food we had good wholesome food but sometimes obesity can be caused through being a coeliac because that can also be the cause as well as being anorexic schools you dont see kids running around but I sometimes think that health and safety has gone mad to because kids dont do exercises in schools we used to have to do lots of pt activities but all kids want to do is sit on tablets ,mobile phones etc it's not all down to food now they are using vapour to and that cant be any good for people 

You will also like

Depression diagnosis: Carenity members tell their story

Postpartum depression

Depression diagnosis: Carenity members tell their story

Read the article
Gynaecological violence: listen to women

Choriocarcinoma
Difficult pregnancy
Dysmenorrhea
Dyspareunia
Eclampsia
Female hypogonadism
Fetal cytomegalovirus syndrome
Fibrocystic breast disease
Gestational diabetes
Hydatidiform mole
Hydramnios
Infertility
Internal endometriosis
Maternal hyperphenylalaninemia
Menopause
Menorrhagia
Miscarriage
MURCS association
Ovarian cyst
Postpartum depression
Preeclampsia
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Uterine fibroma
Vulvodynia / Vestibulodynia
Vulvovaginal Atrophy
Women's health

Gynaecological violence: listen to women

Read the article
Remaining positive despite bipolar disorder, depression and stress

Postpartum depression

Remaining positive despite bipolar disorder, depression and stress

See the testimonial
Depression and diet: how are they related?

Postpartum depression

Depression and diet: how are they related?

Read the article

Most commented discussions

Fact sheets