Research demonstrates that nearly half of all cancer cases are associated with obesity, which experts say emphasises the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This study was conducted by Sweden's Lund University and looked at 4.1 million participants who were tracked over approximately 40 years, focusing on their weight and lifestyle.
During this time period, more than 332,000 cancer cases were identified. The findings reveal that excess weight appeared to be linked to the development of cancer about 40 per cent of the time.
A total of 32 different types of cancer showed an obesity association, according to the report. An additional note in the report highlighted previous international research that identified 13 cancer types associated with obesity.
The European Congress on Obesity was briefed on the results of this research. Professor Jason Halford, president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), stated that the study presented robust, large-scale analysis.
"As always, more research is needed but it reveals what many studying the links between cancer and obesity have suspected; that obesity is likely to be a risk factor for many more types of cancer than we had evidence for before," added Prof. Halford, reports the Express.
On a global scale, estimates published in The Lancet show that more than a billion people live with obesity. With data from 2022 indicating that this includes about 880 million adults and 159 million children.
The highest obesity rates are found in Tonga and American Samoa for women, and American Samoa and Nauru for men, with a staggering 70-80% of adults living with obesity.
Among approximately 190 countries, the UK ranks as the 55th highest for men and 87th for women.
The NHS advises that adults should engage in some form of physical activity daily, incorporating both strength and cardio training.
Additionally, they recommend minimising time spent sitting or lying down and breaking up long periods of inactivity with some form of movement.
An individual's ideal daily calorie intake can vary based on factors such as age, metabolism, and levels of physical activity. Generally, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 for men.
