Rising obesity cases puts children at risk of cancer, charity warns

Cancer Research UK has raised concerns over the increasing number of children who become overweight after starting school, and has warned it could increase their risk of cancer later in life.

New statistics from the charity show that 57,100 children who start primary school in England at a healthy weight end up obese or overweight by the time they leave.

The news comes after the government published its long awaited report on tackling childhood obesity, which was met with criticism from health experts who thought the strategies had been watered down from those initially proposed.

Obesity is currently linked to 10 types of cancer, including bowel, breast and pancreatic.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of prevention, commented: “More than 57,000 children will become overweight or obese during primary school each year in England, and the government had a chance to prevent this.

“The childhood obesity plan is simply not up to the task of tackling children’s obesity. Instead, the next generation faces a future of ill health, shortened lives, and an overstretched NHS.

“It will take more than encouraging exercise and a sugar tax to tackle the obesity epidemic.

“The government has already recognised the influence of junk food marketing on children’s health by banning junk food advertising during children’s programmes - it’s time to close the loop hole during family viewing time.”