Rising rates of obesity have contributed to at least 2,000 cases of kidney cancer a year, according to an analysis published today.
In the last decade rates of the disease have increased by 40% – and could increase by another 26% within 20 years, according to Cancer Research UK.
The charity’s latest analysis suggests that 20,000 people have contracted the disease because of obesity in the last ten years.
This is based on findings that 24% of cases are linked to weight and 24% are linked to smoking.
Dr Julie Sharp, from Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s concerning to see kidney cancer cases rising like this. Being overweight or obese is linked to 13 types of cancer, including kidney which is becoming more and more common.
“Similar to smoking, where damage to cells builds up over time and increases the risk of cancer, damage from carrying excess weight accumulates over a person’s lifetime.
“Making small changes in eating, drinking and being physically active that you can stick with in the long term, is a good way to get to a healthy weight – and stay there."
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