A new study from the Institute of Cancer Research indicates that obesity significantly contributes to rising cancer rates among young adults in England. The research reveals that 11 types of cancer are increasing in individuals aged 20 to 49.
Key findings:
- Obesity is identified as a major driver behind the increasing 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.
- For nine of the 11 cancers, rates are increasing in both younger and older adults.
Smoking rates among younger adults have fallen by around two percent a year over the past two decades. This decline suggests that traditional risk factors like smoking may not be solely responsible for the rise in cancer incidence.
Professor Montserrat García‑Closas stated, “Our findings show that while cancer rates are rising in younger adults, the trends are unlikely to be explained by changes in most known behavioural risk factors.” This highlights the pressing need for public health initiatives targeting obesity.
Professor Kristian Helin emphasized that tackling obesity across all ages must become a national priority. Effective public health policies could help slow the rise of cancer and prevent many cases altogether.
Despite these alarming trends, it is crucial to note that cancer remains relatively rare among young people. Professor Amy Berrington pointed out that although rates have been increasing, cancer in this demographic is still uncommon.
The exact causes behind the rise in cancer rates among younger adults remain unclear and require further research. The study utilized national cancer registry data from England spanning from 2001 to 2019.