Nearly 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the UK every year could be avoided through lifestyle changes, according to new research. Smoking is the biggest avoidable cause of cancer, followed by excess weight, overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and sunbeds, drinking alcohol, eating too little fibre, and outdoor air pollution, a study by Cancer Research UK found. Experts presenting the data warned that with smoking rates continuing to go down and rates of obesity on the increase, obesity could overtake smoking as the biggest killer.
Cancer Research UK chief executive Sir Harpal Kumar said: “Obesity is potentially the new smoking, if we’re not careful. “My sense would be it’ll be some time in next couple of decades that we’ll see those two switch around.” He said the landmark study demonstrates that prevention is the best way of beating the killer disease, adding that the Government could be doing “much more” to help people make healthier choices. READ MORE
