Obesity a key factor for rising cancer rates in young people in England, study finds
Obesity is a key factor for the rising rates of cancer among younger people in England, according to a study,There are 11 types of cancer, including bowel and ovarian cancer, that are increasing among people aged 20 to 49 between 2001 and 2019, according to analysis by researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London,Obesity is the only known behavioural risk factor that has been increasing in younger adults over this period, while more established risks such as smoking, alcohol, red meat and physical inactivity have all remained stable or in decline in England,This led researchers to conclude that the increase in obesity was a key factor behind the rising rate of cancer cases,Excess weight was associated with 10 of the cancers identified, including thyroid, kidney and pancreatic cancer, with oral cancer being the only exception.
Maintaining a healthy weight could prevent about 20% of bowel cancers, 35% of endometrial cancers and 27% of kidney cancers, according to the researchers.The study comes as recent figures revealed that the number of people in the UK being diagnosed with cancer has reached a record high, with one person diagnosed every 80 seconds and more than 403,000 people diagnosed each year.Despite obesity being identified as a key risk factor behind the rising cancer rates among younger adults in England, researchers have said that it is not sufficient to explain the overall rise, indicating that there may also be unknown causes.Prof Montserrat García-Closas, co-director of the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Unit and Group Leader in Integrative Cancer Epidemiology at the Institute of Cancer Research, said:“Excess weight is an important contributor, although it cannot fully account for the scale of the rise in bowel and other cancers.This tells us that multiple factors – including early-life exposures – may be acting together.
Understanding these patterns is essential for identifying what is truly driving cancer risk in today’s generations,” she said,“However, we cannot wait to act,Tackling obesity across all ages, particularly in children and young people, through stronger public health policies and wider access to effective interventions, could slow the rise in cancer and prevent many cancers – and must become a national priority,”The increase in cancer rates among younger adults also mirrored trends seen in people aged over 50, with the exception of bowel and ovarian cancer, which were only seen to rise among younger people by 3% and 0,7% a year on average respectively.
Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Globally and in the UK, we’re seeing a small increase in cancer rates in adults under 50.The picture is complex and we need more research to understand what’s driving the trend, but this study helps to fill in some gaps.“Overweight and obesity doesn’t explain the rise in full though.Improvements in detection are likely to also be playing a part, meaning that more people are being diagnosed at a younger age.“Preventing cancer cases must be a priority for the UK government.
Measures to restrict the advertising and promotion of junk food, introducing mandatory reporting and targets on healthy food sales, and making nutritious food more accessible to everyone, would all help people keep a healthy weight.”
US gas prices hit $4.23 high as Hormuz fears drive oil surge
Average US gas prices have hit a new high at $4.23 a gallon, their highest since 2022 and a record since the start of the war with Iran, according to the motor club AAA.The price of Brent crude, the benchmark that influences the price of gasoline in the US, now stands at $114.60 a barrel, up nearly 25% from the recent low since mid-April. US gas prices a year ago averaged $3
Jerome Powell says he’ll stay on Fed board after central bank keeps interest rates unchanged in defiance of Trump
The US Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, is staying on the central bank’s rate-setting board after his term as chair ends in May, a contentious move that signals continued uncertainty at the Fed.Powell made the announcement after the Fed board left interest rates unchanged for the third time this year on Wednesday, despite Donald Trump’s continued demands for interest rate cuts.Before Wednesday, Powell initially said he will step down from the board when the White House’s investigations into renovations at the Fed are “well and truly over with transparency and finality”. Powell’s term ends on 15 May.While he is “encouraged” by the justice department dropping its investigation, Powell noted that there are “remaining steps in the process” that he is watching carefully
Musk laments being a ‘fool’ for funding OpenAI on day two of court testimony
After a dramatic first day of opening statements and testimony from Elon Musk in his case against Sam Altman and OpenAI, the trial continues on Wednesday with a cross examination of the Tesla CEO. Musk began his second day of testimony by repeating the accusation that Altman “stole a charity” and would endanger humanity with AI multiple times. OpenAI’s defense attorneys will have the chance to press the world’s richest man on his allegations.Peripheral to the legal showdown, the court was packed on Wednesday with a mix of media and eager young men who lined up before dawn to get a glimpse – and a picture – of Musk. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers at one point threatened that if observers did not stop taking photos and videos, a violation of the court’s rules, she would shut down an overflow room for watching the proceedings
Maryland becomes first state to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores
Maryland has become the first state in the US to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores.Maryland’s law bans grocers and third-party delivery services from using a person’s personal data to set higher prices. Wes Moore, the governor, signed the measure into law on Tuesday. “At a time when technology can predict what we need, when we need it, when we’ll pay for it and also – when we’ll pay more for it, and at a time when we’re watching how big companies are then using these analytics against us to make record profits, Maryland is not just pushing back. Maryland is pushing forward because we are going to protect our people,” Moore said at the bill signing ceremony
Revamped Maroons undergo radical reset to take 2026 State of Origin fight to Blues | Jack Snape
Queensland’s greatest player has been jettisoned and backup has been called in from across the ditch. The side has a new-look halves pairing, as many as five State of Origin debutants, and a new coach.Against New South Wales – the holders of the Women’s Origin shield after their comprehensive victory in 2025 – the Maroons have undergone a radical reset. Back to the drawing board? Try again. New coach Nathan Cross is on his way to Officeworks, imagining a whole new fit-out
Sticking with same players for Women’s T20 World Cup leaves England in a twist | Raf Nicholson
Insanity, they say, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. England’s head coach, Charlotte Edwards, is perfectly sane, but on Tuesday she announced a squad for the home T20 World Cup that starts on 12 June almost exactly the same as the one that surrendered the Ashes, by a score of 16-0, 15 months ago. The optics are dreadful.For anyone who has followed England closely over the past year, the conservatism of Edwards and her selection panel comes as no surprise. Last summer, the main selection news was that Kate Cross – who did not play in the Ashes due to injury – was discarded
Rachel Reeves’s plan to mandate how pension funds invest was always a mistake | Nils Pratley
Oil nearing $120 a barrel for first time since 2022 as Trump maintains Iranian blockade – as it happened
Friendly AI chatbots more likely to support conspiracy theories, study finds
I’m addicted to checking my phone. Could a blocking device stop me?
The Spin | Knight-Stokes Cup sets up much-needed platform for state school cricket
Luka Dončić and the manosphere: why the scrutiny of his body never ends