An observational study published in the Gut journal has followed almost 240 000 Swedish men recruited into the army in 1969-76¹. The men were aged 16 to 20 during recruitment at which time nearly 12% were underweight, 5% were moderately overweight, 1.5% was very overweight and 1% was obese. After a 35-year follow-up, outcomes showed the development of 885 cases of bowel cancer, 501 cases of colon cancer and 384 rectal cancers amongst the men. Those who were overweight were twice as likely to develop bowel cancer as those in the normal range.
Since then, obesity has become one of the fastest growing pandemics to date. From 2011 to 2012, The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported 25% of children aged 2 to 17 were overweight or obese². Similarly, it was determined that dietary risks and high BMIs are some of the greatest contributors to burden of disease. It is predicted that by 2025, one third of 5 to 19 year old Australians will be overweight or obese³.
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References
Kantor E, Udumyan R, Signorello L. Adolescent body mass index and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in relation to colorectal cancer risk. Gut 2015; doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-309007.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2013. Australian Health Survey: updated results, 2011–2012. ABS cat. no. 4364.0.55.003. Canberra: ABS.
AIHW [Online] Available at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/overweight-and-obesity/ (Accessed on 26th Spetember, 2015)
Univadis [Online] Available at: http://www.univadis.co.uk/medical-news/287/Teens-obesity-linked-to-later-bowel-cancer?u=g7Nnk16ewgseZG%204W1juJf3WJnKOvJRYPVKIwTKQ6aF/ksnnjS8/UlEbZgV/lV48 (Accessed 7th September, 2015)
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