A new study from the Institute of Cancer Research reveals that obesity significantly contributes to the rising rates of 11 types of cancer among young adults in England. This challenges the assumption that traditional risk factors like smoking and diet are the primary causes.
Key findings:
- Eleven types of cancer are increasing in individuals aged 20 to 49 in England.
- Obesity is identified as a major driver behind these rising cancer rates.
- The cancers linked to obesity include thyroid, multiple myeloma, liver, kidney, gallbladder, colorectal, pancreatic, endometrial, oral, breast, and ovarian cancers.
- Bowel cancer rates in younger women linked to BMI rose from 0.9 to 1.6 per 100,000 people.
- Approximately 31,000 cancers were diagnosed in people aged 20 to 49 in England in 2023.
Research shows that for nine of the eleven cancers, incidence rates are increasing among both younger and older adults. Smoking rates among younger adults have fallen by about two percent annually over the last two decades. In contrast, obesity-related cancers are on the rise. Professor Montserrat García‑Closas stated that the trends are unlikely to be explained by changes in most known behavioral risk factors.
Professor Kristian Helin emphasized the need for stronger public health policies to tackle obesity across all ages. He noted that addressing this issue could slow the rise in cancer cases and prevent many cancers from developing. However, officials have not confirmed what specific interventions will be implemented.
Despite these increases, cancer remains a rare disease among young people. Professor Amy Berrington pointed out that while rates have been increasing, it still affects a small portion of this demographic. The exact causes behind this rise remain unclear and require further research.
