Being overweight in adolescence is linked to a greater risk of bowel cancer later in life, a Swedish study suggests. And there is a worryingly high obesity rate in the UK.
The BBC reported that researchers had followed nearly 240,000 Swedish men for 35 years. The analysis, published in the journal Gut, showed overweight teenagers went on to have twice the risk of bowel cancer. The figures were even higher in obese teens. The World Cancer Research Fund said the link between obesity and cancer was ‘strong’.
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, with nearly 1.4 million new cases each year. Processed red meat and abdominal fat have been linked to the disease.
The participants in the study were aged between 16 and 20 at the start and the overwhelming majority were a normal weight, but 6.5% were overweight and 1% were obese. There were 855 cases of colorectal cancer in the study but the results showed not all weights were affected equally.
Those who were obese were 2.38 times more likely to have developed a bowel tumour.
The study, led by Orebro University Hospital in Sweden and Harvard University, said: “Late adolescence marks the transition from childhood to adulthood and is a period of accelerated growth, especially among men, thus this period may represent a critical window.
“It is important that we understand the role of exposures in childhood and adolescence in the development of colorectal cancer.”
Rachel Thompson, from the World Cancer Research Fund, said the evidence suggested that obesity was a risk factor for bowel cancer.
“This finding is interesting because it gives an indication that bowel cancer risk might be affected by our lifestyle habits throughout the life course,” she said. “In some ways, research into the relationship between factors like obesity and cancer risk is still in its infancy.”
According to UK government statistics, most people in England are overweight or obese. This includes 61.9% of adults and 28% of children aged between 2 and 15.
A government policy statement says people who are overweight have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Excess weight can also make it more difficult for people to find and keep work, and it can affect self-esteem and mental health.
It adds that health problems associated with being overweight or obese cost the NHS more than £5 billion every year.
By 2020, the government statement said, the aim is a downward trend in the level of excess weight in adults and a sustained downward trend in the level of excess weight in children.
Managing weight and combating obesity is easier with hypnotherapy and the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) has 1800 therapists across the UK on it directory all of whom are highly trained and can offer effective treatment in weight control.
Managing weight loss is one of the most effective results of hypnotherapy. Rather than just reducing calories that a client is likely to put on again in the longer term, hypnosis gets the person in touch with the reasons why they unconsciously eat.
If you are the type of person that struggles to stop after a small piece of chocolate and feels compelled to finish the box, then a hypnotherapist can help you understand why and help you create new healthy self-management techniques.
Hypnosis for weight loss is about changing lifelong negative habits around food and body image, so the best results are often when the client commits to a programme of treatment.
Losing weight with hypnosis is essentially about learning to feel good about yourself and it focuses on making healthy changes to both diet and lifestyle that will remain in place.
To start a healthier eating plan and reduce chances of ill health, find an NCH therapist near you by clicking here. A better lifestyle awaits…
