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Cancer Insight

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Current topic:
Overweight and obesity

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Overweight and obesity causes more than 1 in 20 cancer cases in the UK, across 13 types of cancer.

After smoking, being overweight or obese is the single biggest preventable cause of cancer.

How could obesity lead to cancer

How does obesity in childhood affect cancer risk as an adult

Facts and figures

The latest statistics show that around 30% of children in the UK are overweight or obese. The trend is set to continue so it’s time to act now. With 1 in 20 cancers linked to excess weight, cancer incidence is expected to rise.

See more statistsics

Policies

Tackling obesity is a government priority, but their plan to address obesity leaves much to be desired. We need more comprehensive measure for this to be effective.

See our policies on obesity and unhealthy behaviours

Ask, advise, act

Reducing the prevalence of being overweight or obese by 1% each year could avoid 64,200 cases of cancer and save save around £40 million in NHS costs annually. Find out how to approach this with patients.

See more on Very brief advice

Causes of cancer and ways to reduce risk

Useful information to help you when talking to people about cancer prevention.

More about causes of cancer and reducing the risk

Leaflets and publications

Free leaflets and publications on living a healthy lifestlye and how to reduce cancer risk for use with patients.

Order or download now

Newsletters

Newsletters targeted at health professionals which provide intelligence to support evidence-based decision making, update on our activities and give practical guidance, useful tools and resources.

See the range and sign up

Previous topic: E-cigarettes

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Advice for health professionals on e-cigarettes.

Visit the hub

See the newsletters

Previous topic: Sun and skin cancer

Need-to-know information about melanoma skin cancer for GPS, Practice Nurses and Pharmacy staff.

See the newsletters

Next time…

Smoking cessation

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Coming August 2018

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Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666) and the Isle of Man (1103). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London EC1V 4AD.