A doctor has urged people to look at their gut health after statistics showed an alarming rise in cancer rates among younger adults. Cancer rates in 25 to 49-year-olds increased by 24% between 1995 and 2019, according to Cancer Research UK statistics. Figures show that people over 50 are still more likely to have cancer, but early-onset cancers are a growing cause for concern.
Approximately 100 younger adults in the UK were diagnosed with cancer every day between 2017 and 2019. People have pointed to a growing population and increased detection techniques, but others have described the rise as 'alarming' and a 'scientific conundrum that urgently needs to be solved'. Speaking on GBM, Dr Hilary Jones said factors such as obesity and a lack of exercise would definitely contributing factors.
But he added that gut health - which is a growing area of interest in medicine, health and wellness - is also a crucial factor due to people relying on ultra-processed foods. In the UK, 60 per cent of the average adult's diet is from ultra-processed foods, and the rate is higher among children. The shocking statistics are among the highest in Europe.
"It is an alarming rise. Obesity is certainly one cause that is being looked at, and so is lack of exercise," he said. "But probably the main driver is poor diet.
"What is happening is that the gut microbiome – the diversity of bacteria that normally reside in our gut – are changing, probably due to a preponderant in ultra-processed foods. Wh.
