Obesity and poor diet linked to rise in cancer
Source: Agencies |
August 29, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
RATES of esophageal cancer in men have risen by 50 percent in Britain in a generation, an increase being driven in part by growing rates of obesity and poor diet, scientists said yesterday.
As the "fat man of Europe," Britain is seeing far higher rates of a type of esophageal cancer called adenocarcinoma, which is related to obesity and eating a high saturated fat diet, said researchers with the charity Cancer Research UK.
"We know that being overweight significantly increases the risk of adenocarcinoma - the main type of esophageal cancer that's on the up," said Janusz Jankowski of Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, whose research was backed by the charity.
"Our changing diets are also likely to be influencing the rise, with people eating less fruit and vegetables," Jankowski said.
Adenocarcinoma rates in Britain were now among the highest in the world, including the United States, suggesting genetic factors, as well as obesity rates, may be having an influence.
"If you look at people who get this adenocarcinoma type of cancer, it seems to be mainly Anglo Saxon males," he said, whereas black populations appear to have lower rates.
Jankowski and colleagues are expecting to publish the results soon of research into the genetic factors that may be behind the causes of the disease.
"Then we may have an answer on whether it is nature or nurture. I suspect it will be a combination, but the question is whether it is skewed one way or the other," he said.
Figures showed that while in 1983, 9.6 in every 100,000 men in Britain had esophageal cancer, now it is 14.4.
As the "fat man of Europe," Britain is seeing far higher rates of a type of esophageal cancer called adenocarcinoma, which is related to obesity and eating a high saturated fat diet, said researchers with the charity Cancer Research UK.
"We know that being overweight significantly increases the risk of adenocarcinoma - the main type of esophageal cancer that's on the up," said Janusz Jankowski of Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, whose research was backed by the charity.
"Our changing diets are also likely to be influencing the rise, with people eating less fruit and vegetables," Jankowski said.
Adenocarcinoma rates in Britain were now among the highest in the world, including the United States, suggesting genetic factors, as well as obesity rates, may be having an influence.
"If you look at people who get this adenocarcinoma type of cancer, it seems to be mainly Anglo Saxon males," he said, whereas black populations appear to have lower rates.
Jankowski and colleagues are expecting to publish the results soon of research into the genetic factors that may be behind the causes of the disease.
"Then we may have an answer on whether it is nature or nurture. I suspect it will be a combination, but the question is whether it is skewed one way or the other," he said.
Figures showed that while in 1983, 9.6 in every 100,000 men in Britain had esophageal cancer, now it is 14.4.
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