Cases of cancer caused by obesity expected to triple

It’s expected that, by 2042, the number of cases of cancer caused by obesity in Canada will triple.

The new numbers are based on the Canadian Population Attributable Risk of Cancer study, funded by the Canadian Cancer Society.

“Similar to if someone smokes we encourage them to quit smoking, then we can have a similar conversation about ensuring that people have improved access to obesity treatment,” said Elizabeth Holmes, a health policy analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society.

She said the numbers are very troubling, especially because about half of all Canadians carry more weight than they should.

There are about 13 different cancers that are linked to excess weight right now, including breast cancer, colon cancer, uterine cancer and esophageal cancer.

Holmes said greater efforts to prevent childhood obesity will help get a handle on those numbers, but there are other steps to be taken as well.

“We would like to see improved front-of-package nutrition labels. We’d like to have bigger conversations around active transportation to help people to move more and sit less,” Holmes said.

She said she would also like to see the Senate pass a bill that would restrict the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.

Holmes said that, based on the study, the Cancer Society expects the number of cancer cases caused by excess weigh will triple from 7,200 to 21,200 by 2042.