Professor Grant McIntyre, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery and Vice-President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), responds to the study from the Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London that shows an increase in 11 types of cancer among people aged 20 to 49:
"The report states that excess weight is not the sole cause of rising cancer rates among younger adults in England. However, given that other risks such as smoking, alcohol, red meat and physical inactivity have remained stable or are in decline. obesity is clearly a key risk factor."
"Excess weight was associated with 10 of the cancers identified, including thyroid, kidney and pancreatic cancer and maintaining a healthy weight could prevent about 20% of bowel cancers, 35% of endometrial cancers and 27% of kidney cancers, according to the researchers."
"Cancer diagnoses in the UK have reached a record high, with one person diagnosed every 80 seconds."
"As a good diet and healthy weight can prevent many of these cancers, we are naturally supportive of the renewed emphasis on public health across the UK as well as recent measures to restrict the marketing of junk food."
"We also support the aim of the National Cancer Plan to publish more meaningful, performance metrics and outcomes as this will help improve cancer services and outcomes through shared learning and best practice."