Bowel cancer rates rising ‘among young adults’

“It is estimated that up to 40% of all cancers could be preventable by following a healthy lifestyle, including following a balanced diet, partaking in regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.  Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the UK with cases prevalent mainly in older adults.  However, two studies have been recently published highlighting an increase in the cases of bowel cancer amongst younger adults (20-29 years).  Could this be due to the younger generation following an unhealthy lifestyle?  There is strong evidence to link cancer with an increased percentage of body fat, in fact out of 17 cancers reviewed this applied to 12, including bowel cancer.  Over a third of young adults are overweight or obese, and 15% physically inactive with a third participating in sedentary behaviour for six hours or more during the week, increasing over the weekend!  A diet rich in wholegrains including wholemeal bread and high fibre breakfast cereals, is thought to protect against bowel cancer, but currently we are consuming 19g of fibre per day as opposed to the recommended 30g per day.  High fibre options are not always the preferred option by the younger age group who due to busy lifestyles may eat on the go foods that tend to be cheap and readily available.  Unfortunately these foods typically are high in fat, salt and sugar and low in complex carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals and fruit and vegetables.  The World Cancer Research Fund in their report on diet, nutrition, physical activity and cancer provided lifestyle recommendations to reduce the risk of cancer.  These include be a healthy weight, be physically active, eat a diet rich in wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and beans, limit consumption of fast foods and other processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars, red and processed meat, sugar sweetened drinks and alcohol.  So this piece of news is not surprising considering the increasing amount of evidence with cancer and lifestyle, even though cases of bowel cancer are still low amongst this age group.”

 

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