British cancer rates as bad as America's
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lifestyles in the UK are so unhealthy that the country is matching America on the number of preventable cancer cases, an expert says today.
Eating a diet full of fruit and vegetables, taking regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight could prevent about a third (80,000) of cancer cases in the UK, figures show.
But a new analysis reveals that although the UK has a lower level of obesity than the States, Britons drink more alcohol so the cancer rates are similar.
Professor Martin Wiseman, scientific and medical adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), said: "In the US, we estimate that for the seven types of cancer that are weight related, just under 20 per cent could be prevented through people being a healthy weight. In the UK, this figure is about 17 per cent.
"But one reason the overall situation in the UK is as bad is the amount of alcohol we drink. This means we need to do more to raise awareness that alcohol increases cancer risk."
Each year in the UK there are estimated to be 4,992 preventable cases of mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer, 5,871 of oesophageal cancer, 12,878 of lung cancer and 3,471 avoidable cases of stomach cancer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments