Obesity set to overtake smoking as biggest preventable cause of cancer among women

A campaign is being launched in Cumbria today to highlight the link between the two.

It coincides with the publication of Cancer Research UK report, showing the true scale of the problem.

Experts stress that the harsh reality is that being overweight increases risk of cancer in women and men.

However females are particularly at risk because of the link between obesity and breast and womb cancers.

Cancer Research UK says that, in 25 years time, obesity will be the biggest preventable cause of cancer in women.

Cumbria has some of the highest obesity rates - among both adults and children - in the country, meaning women in the county are particularly at risk.

Being overweight or obese as an adult increases the risk of 13 different types of cancer including breast, bowel and kidney cancer.

Local health chiefs have already said that tackling the problem is the biggest health challenge of the time, overtaking smoking as the top public health priority in Cumbria.

Earlier this year they held a high-profile obesity summit in north Cumbria to raise awareness of the problems.

They used the event to call on the wider community - including councils, schools, businesses and families - to join the fight against obesity, and put pressure on the Government and food/drink producers and retailers to do more to tackle 'junk food'.

Now Cancer Research, as part of its Cumbrian campaign, has renewed its call for Government action.

It wants tougher rules on junk food advertising and price promotions on unhealthy foods in supermarkets.

Alison Barbuti, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Cumbria, said: “Fifty years ago most people didn’t know that smoking causes cancer.

"Today, we’re bringing the link between obesity and cancer to the public’s attention to ensure that people are aware of the facts.

“With the bombardment of junk food marketing and the high calorific content of many readily available foods, there are so many things working against us when it comes to keeping a healthy weight.

"By highlighting the issue, our campaign hopes to encourage Government action to tackle obesity through changes which will make it easier for all of us to make healthy choices.”

The campaign will see displays highlighting the campaign at locations in Carlisle, Wigton, Cleator Moor and Frizington.

The posters aim to be intriguing, highlighting the gaps in people’s knowledge with missing letters in the word ‘obesity’.

As well raining awareness, the charity is also calling on the Government to build on the lessons learned from restrictions on tobacco advertising to help reduce the number of weight-related cancers.

These measures include helping to protect children by introducing a 9pm watershed on junk food advertising.

It stresses that being overweight as a child means an individual is five times more likely to be overweight as an adult.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert, added: “Obesity is a huge public health threat right now, and it will only get worse if nothing is done.

"The UK Government must build on the lessons of smoking prevention to reduce the number of weight-related cancers by making it easier to keep a healthy weight and protect children.

“The decline in smoking is 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.”

Earlier this year a senior Cumbrian GP also warned that being overweight significantly increases your risk of cancer.

Dr John Howarth explained that when you are obese, your hormones change, and that contributes to cell changes.

These cells can then multiply out of control, while having excess fat also increases inflammation in the body.

"These two things together are thought to be the reason why it causes cancer. The message is obesity causes cancer," he said.

Other conditions that can be triggered by obesity include heart disease, stroke, liver disease, diabetes, sleep apnoea, arthritis, back pain, asthma, depression, anxiety and reproductive issues.

Dr Howarth said that carrying excess weight around your waist is particularly high risk. Yet the number of adults with very high waist circumferences has rocketed in the last 20 years.