A report published by charity organization Cancer Research U.K. suggests obesity is on track to eclipse smoking as the greatest cause of preventable cancer in British women—something experts say could happen by 2043, the Guardian has reported.
Cancer Research U.K.’s report projected that within 17 years, 23,000 cases of cancers in women could be triggered by their weight, while 25,000 cancers will still likely be the result of smoking. But a decline in smoking—“a cause for celebration,” according to Linda Bauld, the organization’s prevention expert—means obesity is on its way to overtaking smoking as a No. 1 killer.
“Obesity is a huge public health threat right now, and it will only get worse if nothing is done,” Bauld told the Guardian. “The U.K. 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, as those who are overweight are five times more likely to be so as an adult.”
She suggested banning ads for junk food before 9 p.m. and restricting price promotions on unhealthy products at the supermarket.
“Just as there is still more to do to support people to quit smoking, we also need to act now to halt the ride of weight-related cancers and ensure this projection never becomes a reality,” Bauld said.
Cancer Research U.K.’s findings don’t apply to everyone, though. According to the organization, while more men than women are overweight, obesity has a greater effect on women, and the same relationship between weight and cancer isn’t as evident in the male population. They’re still more likely to use tobacco and, as a result, develop smoking-related cancers.
Read the Guardian’s full report below.
After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.