Studies say almost half of cancer cases are linked to obesity, and experts say they stress the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The study was conducted by Lund University in Sweden and looked at 4.1 million participants who were tracked over nearly 40 years, focusing on their weight and lifestyle.
During this period, more than 332,000 cancer cases were confirmed. The results showed that excess weight appeared to be associated with about a 40 percent chance of developing cancer.
A total of 32 types of cancer were associated with obesity, according to the report. Additional notes in the report highlight previous international research that identified 13 types of cancer associated with obesity.
The results of this study were presented at the European Obesity Conference. Professor Jason Halford, president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), said the study represented a robust, large-scale analysis.
“As always, more research is needed, but our findings reveal what many studying the relationship between cancer and obesity have suspected. 'It may be a risk factor for some types of cancer,' Professor Halford added. The Express reported.
Globally, more than 1 billion people live with obesity, according to estimates published in The Lancet. Data for 2022 shows that this includes approximately 880 million adults and 159 million children.
Obesity rates are highest for women in Tonga and American Samoa, and for men in American Samoa and Nauru, where an astonishing 70-80% of adults are obese.
Out of around 190 countries, the UK ranks 55th for men and 87th for women.
The NHS advises that adults should engage in some form of physical activity every day that incorporates both strength training and cardiovascular training.
It also recommends minimizing 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 depends on factors such as age, metabolism, and level of physical activity. Generally, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 calories for men.