Obesity, excessive body fat has its severe consequences for physical and mental health, and the difficulty of treating it make the prevention of obesity a major public health priority.
The rising levels of obesity and overweight in the society are nothing short of a time bomb, according to a British cancer expert.
Dr Greg Martin, Science and Research Manager for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), is using Cancer Prevention Week (May 21 to May 27) to warn people that they need to act now if the country is to avoid a massive increase in the number of cancer cases.
This is because cancer is closely linked to obesity, and research shows that up to 40 per cent of cancers could be prevented through a healthy diet and regular physical activity. But despite increased public awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, obesity levels in the UK are continuing to rise.
Dr Martin said: ?There has been plenty of attention recently on the problems of obesity, but a lot of people still do not realise how closely obesity is linked to cancer.
?People getting fatter will lead to an increase in the number of cancer cases as surely as night follows day. You also have to add into the mix the fact that cancer is largely an older person?s disease, and the UK has an ageing population.
?So if you have an ageing population that is getting more obese, there could be really serious consequences in terms of the number of people developing cancer if people do not act now.?
And Dr Martin has warned people will have to look at their lifestyle now if this big rise is to be avoided some years in the future.
He added: ?The frustrating thing is that people can make simple changes to their lifestyle to reduce their cancer risk. But ultimately each person has to make that commitment and at the moment too many people are dying because they are not taking action.
?It really is as simple as eating more healthily, making sure your portion size is not too big, and taking regular exercise. When you think about what a devastating disease cancer is, it really is worth taking these simple steps because they can make a big difference.?