Summary
It is predicted that three out of four adults will be overweight or obese by 2035. The following Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and UK Health Forum report suggests that obesity could be associated with 670,000 to 700,000 extra cases of cancer over the next 20 years in UK. There would also be millions of new cases of Type 2 Diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. The dementia risk factor is left unexplored.
Rising levels of obesity are expected to cost the NHS an additional £2.5 billion per year by 2035; i.e. in addition to the amounts already “wasted” on obesity-related diseases.
Reference
Mundasad, S. (2016). Obesity ‘linked to cancer rise’. London: BBC Health News, January 7th 2016.
This relates to:
Reference
Tipping the scales: Why preventing obesity makes economic sense. London: Cancer Research UK / UK Health Forum, January 7th 2016.
2018 Update
It is estimated that, by 2035, 10% of cancers in women (roughly 25,000 cases) could be caused by smoking and 9% (roughly 23,000 cases) may be caused by excess weight. If trends continue, excess weight might cause more cases than smoking in women, by 2043.
Reference
Obesity ‘to be linked to more female cancers’ than smoking. London: BBC Health News, September 24th 2018.
This relates to:
Reference
Obesity could overtake smoking as biggest preventable cause of cancer in women. London: Cancer Research UK, September 24th 2018.
2019 Update
Types of cancer associated with obesity:
Reference
Roberts, M. (2019). Obesity ’causes more cases of some cancers than smoking’. London: BBC Health News, July 3rd 2019.
Fat Shaming: an Unproductive and Potentially Harmful Approach
A British Psychological Society report warns of the misunderstandings and risks arising from “fat shaming”:
Reference
Obesity not caused by lack of willpower – psychologists. London: BBC Health News, September 24th 2019.
