Doctors are sounding the alarm over a widespread eating habit as two specific canc3r types are sharply increasing among young adults worldwide.
Researchers have found that cases of bowel and colon canc3r are rising in younger people, and poor diet appears to be a major contributing factor.
Bowel canc3r – the UK’s fourth most popular canc3r, according to Canc3r Research, is increasingly affecting younger adults across the globe. In the UK, only one in every 20 cases occurs in people under 50, yet that number is steadily climbing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded over 1.9 million new cases of colon canc3r in 2020. While screenings have reduced rates in some wealthier nations, early-onset cases are surging among younger populations in the UK and Europe.
Experts call this rise a “global phenomenon,” but stress that many of these canc3rs are preventable – making early awareness crucial.
Although overall canc3r rates have declined in recent decades, data from the U.S. National Institutes of Health shows that between 2010 and 2019, the incidence of 14 canc3r types including colorectal canc3r, increased significantly in people under 50.
Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Kimmie Ng warned that individuals born in 1990 now face quadruple the risk of developing colorectal canc3r and more than double the risk of colon canc3r compared to those born in 1950.
Similarly, Dr. Timothy Rebbeck of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health noted that the surge is affecting both men and women, suggesting that widespread environmental or lifestyle factors are driving the trend.
“The last time we saw a global shift like this was the lung canc3r epidemic of the mid-20th century,” Rebbeck said. “And that turned out to be caused by cigarette smoking.”
Now, scientists believe they’ve identified a modern equivalent culprit: ultra-processed food.
A recent study published in BJS revealed that from 2010 to 2019, early-onset colorectal canc3r cases rose by nearly 15% in the U.S., with similar increases worldwide. Researchers suspect that environmental and lifestyle influences particularly diet are behind the spike.
Obesity, a Western-style diet, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, smoking, and alcohol were all listed as potential risk factors.
So what exactly is a “Western diet”?
It’s characterized by high consumption of ultra-processed foods, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates and low intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Think supermarket bread, packaged snacks, sugary cereals, processed meats, instant noodles, and ready-made meals. These convenient foods, while popular, can have hidden long-term consequences for health.
Cancer epidemiologist Tomotaka Ugai from Harvard’s Chan School emphasizes that keeping a healthy lifestyle remains one of the best defenses not just against canc3r, but many chronic diseases.