Chips make cancer "younger"

Cancer is historically considered the disease of the elderly, but every year the disease is “rejuvenated”: the percentage of young people among patients with oncology is growing. Perhaps, among other things, chips and sweet soda are to blame for this. The study published in Lancet Public Health 1 showed the connection of obesity and development of cancer at an early age. Statistical measurements showed that among patients every year more and more people aged 25–49 years and younger. This is partly written off in an early diagnosis of the disease: before, young people simply did not check for oncology. But one early diagnostics can not explain the correlation.

Scientists from the American Cancer Society analyzed the data of 25 US state registers from January 1995 to December 2014 by 30 types of cancer, including 12 types of obesity, among patients 25–84 years old. During the review, not only the age was noted in which the disease was diagnosed, but also the stage of the disease, the indicated causes, etc. Of course, in comparison with observations in the 20th century, the percentage of cases increased in recent years. It is amazing that at the same time the percentage of sick at a more advanced age increased much less, while young cancer patients becomes sharply greater.

Since the causes of cancer were also analyzed, scientists in this review managed to establish another correlation: in most cases, young cancer develops against the backdrop of obesity. Excess body weight is a well -known problem associated with more than a dozen cancer. But one thing to know, another is to eat right. Unfortunately, the spread of information about cancer and obesity is automatically not worth the spread of fashion to healthy diet, especially in the USA. On the contrary, the quality of the nutrition of modern people has significantly worsened in recent years. Hyuna Sung, the main author of the article, notes: “ Obesity is associated with diseases that can contribute to the risk of cancer. For example, diabetes, stones in the gall bladder, inflammatory intestinal diseases and poor nutrition can increase the risk of oncology . ”

It turns out that in order to win the cancer, it is necessary to first defeat the epidemic of obesity, and it is not only about the United States. Scientists are sure: the problem of obesity and related diseases requires not only personal attention to their health, but also a certain state policy. Probably, regulatory legislation can help the healing of people, and it is not only about creating a comfortable urban environment that would contribute to physical activity, sports and active rest of the population. We also need laws that increase excise taxes on high -calorie foods and drinks, as well as a strict restriction of their advertising.

Similar legislative measures work in a number of other countries. So, in Finland, since 1970, extremely high prices for strong alcoholic drinks have been introduced, and their advertising is prohibited on television, in newspapers and magazines. These measures have significantly reduced the use of alcoholic beverages and made it possible to partially solve the problem of alcoholism in the country. Similar measures can help with the problem of obesity. When the cost of sweet soda will increase, and its advertising will not jump out at every step, sales will fall. More importantly, the propaganda of a healthy lifestyle and, ultimately, the health of the population should be tied to educational institutions, starting with school desks. Perhaps these are the measures that will help to grow a healthier generation.

Lidia Georgieva,
Biotechnologist, scientific journalist

1 Sung H. et al. Emering Cancer Trends Among Young Adults in the USA: Analysis of a Population-Based Cancer Registry . In: Lancet, Vol. 4, Issue 3, PE137-E147 MARCH 01 2019-Doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(18)30267-6