Yorkshire folk 'do not link cancer and obesity'
by Vicki Robinson
YORKSHIRE people rate looking good over cutting the risk of cancer as a reason to stay slim, according to a survey by Cancer Research UK.
The findings show widespread lack of knowledge about the link between obesity and cancer, says the charity. Forty per cent of people in Yorkshire think looking good is an advantage of maintaining a healthy body weight, compared with 32 per cent for lowering the risk of cancer. Some 69 per cent picked cutting the risk of heart disease.
Being obese is one of the most significant preventable causes of cancer in non-smokers, increasing the risk of bowel, stomach, oesophageal and kidney cancers, as well as womb and breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Cancer Research UK director of cancer information Dr Lesley Walker, said: "This research provides a real insight into the low awareness of the link between obesity and cancer.
"We know for those who don't smoke, maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important things we can do to reduce our risk of cancer.
Obesity Link to Cancer
Linear Mode
