This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8035241.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Weight 'fuels preventable cancer' | Weight 'fuels preventable cancer' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Almost 19,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with cancer that could have been prevented if they were a healthy weight, an expert says. | Almost 19,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with cancer that could have been prevented if they were a healthy weight, an expert says. |
Professor Martin Wiseman said if everyone had a body mass index (BMI) under 25 it would make a big dent in the incidence of cancer. | Professor Martin Wiseman said if everyone had a body mass index (BMI) under 25 it would make a big dent in the incidence of cancer. |
Cancers of the breast, bowel, kidney, pancreas, oesophagus and womb lining are among those linked to obesity. | Cancers of the breast, bowel, kidney, pancreas, oesophagus and womb lining are among those linked to obesity. |
Professor Wiseman is an adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). | Professor Wiseman is an adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). |
BODY MASS INDEX Calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared Normal: 18.5 - 24.9Overweight: 25 - 29.9Obese: Above 30 Calculate your BMI | BODY MASS INDEX Calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared Normal: 18.5 - 24.9Overweight: 25 - 29.9Obese: Above 30 Calculate your BMI |
The WCRF recommends that people try to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. | The WCRF recommends that people try to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. |
A healthy BMI is defined as between 18.5 and 25, but, for example, scientists estimate that someone at the top of the healthy weight range is 15% more likely to develop bowel cancer than someone at the bottom of it. | A healthy BMI is defined as between 18.5 and 25, but, for example, scientists estimate that someone at the top of the healthy weight range is 15% more likely to develop bowel cancer than someone at the bottom of it. |
Overall, scientists estimate that about a third of the most common cancers could be prevented if people ate healthily, were physically active and maintained a healthy weight. | Overall, scientists estimate that about a third of the most common cancers could be prevented if people ate healthily, were physically active and maintained a healthy weight. |
Stark warning | Stark warning |
Speaking ahead of Cancer Prevention Week, Professor Wiseman said: "The stark fact is that every year in this country, many thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer that could have been prevented if they had maintained a healthy weight. | Speaking ahead of Cancer Prevention Week, Professor Wiseman said: "The stark fact is that every year in this country, many thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer that could have been prevented if they had maintained a healthy weight. |
"This is a real cause for concern and the problem is only going to get worse if the number of people who are overweight continues to rise. | "This is a real cause for concern and the problem is only going to get worse if the number of people who are overweight continues to rise. |
"The evidence that being overweight puts you at increased risk of cancer is stronger now than ever before and we now say that, after not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the most important thing you can do for cancer prevention. | "The evidence that being overweight puts you at increased risk of cancer is stronger now than ever before and we now say that, after not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the most important thing you can do for cancer prevention. |
"This is the reason we recommend people aim to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight." | "This is the reason we recommend people aim to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight." |
However, Professor Wiseman said a recent survey had showed that almost 40% still did not know that excess body fat was a cause of cancer. | |
"This means we need to do more work to spread the message that maintaining a healthy weight is something positive people can to reduce their risk of developing cancer later in life." | "This means we need to do more work to spread the message that maintaining a healthy weight is something positive people can to reduce their risk of developing cancer later in life." |
Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: "The message has to be that being overweight increases the risk of some forms of cancer but losing weight, even as little as 5kg can significantly reduce the risk. | Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: "The message has to be that being overweight increases the risk of some forms of cancer but losing weight, even as little as 5kg can significantly reduce the risk. |
"Getting BMI down to below 25 is ideal but not achievable by everyone. But every pound lost counts towards decreasing risk and is worth the effort." | "Getting BMI down to below 25 is ideal but not achievable by everyone. But every pound lost counts towards decreasing risk and is worth the effort." |
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, agreed that keeping BMI down to 25 would have a big impact on cancer. | Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, agreed that keeping BMI down to 25 would have a big impact on cancer. |
Mr Fry said the only way to tackle the problem was to monitor children much more closely than was currently done, and to take action if they showed signs of a weight problem. | Mr Fry said the only way to tackle the problem was to monitor children much more closely than was currently done, and to take action if they showed signs of a weight problem. |
He said: "We have got to prevent people becoming overweight in the first place, once the milk has been spilt it is impossible to clean up the mess." | He said: "We have got to prevent people becoming overweight in the first place, once the milk has been spilt it is impossible to clean up the mess." |
The WCRF also recommends that people limit their consumption of energy dense foods, and avoid sugary drinks. | The WCRF also recommends that people limit their consumption of energy dense foods, and avoid sugary drinks. |
Previous version
1
Next version