Being overweight as a young adult can increase the risk of developing 18 cancers – more than have been previously linked with the disease, researchers found. Previous studies have shown that people who are overweight or obese have a heightened risk of a number of different cancers including breast, bowel, kidney and pancreatic. Now excess weight has also been linked to leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and among never-smokers, bladder and head and neck cancers in a large new study. The authors said these cancers have not previously been “considered as obesity-related cancers”. Our findings support public health strategies for cancer prevention focusing on preventing and reducing early overweight and obesity Study authors And that the impact of obesity on cancer is “likely underestimated”. The new study, published in Nature Communications, saw researchers examine data on more than 2.6 million Spanish adults aged 40 and under who were cancer-free in 2009. Researchers examined the body mass index (BMI) scores throughout the lifetime of people involved with the study, saying that previous research investigating the link between weight and cancer has used single BMI scores. The people in the study were tracked for nine years to see whether they developed cancer. Some 225,396 were diagnosed with cancer during the period studied. The Spanish researchers found that those who were overweight or obese in early adulthood – aged 40 and under – appeared to have an increased risk of cancer. Those who were overweight or obese for a longer period also appeared to have a higher risk. Our own evidence shows that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life is one of the most important things people can do to reduce their cancer risk, and early prevention in adulthood is key Dr Heinz Freisling, one of the study’s co-leaders Overall, some 18 cancers were linked to excess weight. The authors wrote: “This study shows that longer duration, greater degree, and younger age of onset of overweight and obesity during early adulthood are positively associated with risk of 18 cancers, including leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and among never-smokers, head and neck, and bladder cancers which are not yet considered as obesity-related cancers in the literature. “Our findings seem to indicate that longer exposures to overweight and obesity (with or without accounting for the degree of overweight and obesity), as well as developing overweight and obesity at younger ages in early adulthood might increase cancer risk. “Our findings support public health strategies for cancer prevention focusing on preventing and reducing early overweight and obesity.” Dr Heinz Freisling, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and one of the study’s co-leaders, said: “The results of our study support a re-evaluation of the cancer burden associated with overweight and obesity, which currently is likely underestimated.” Commenting on the study, Dr Panagiota Mitrou, director of research, policy and innovation at World Cancer Research Fund, said: “This large study has future public health implications since additional cancers, such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, have been shown to be linked with overweight and obesity. “Our own evidence shows that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life is one of the most important things people can do to reduce their cancer risk, and early prevention in adulthood is key.” Read More Study says drinking water from nearly half of US faucets contains potentially harmful chemicals Up to 10,000 Britons could take part in cancer vaccine trials People with signs of bowel cancer should be offered a £5 ‘poo test’ before invasive bowel investigations Nurture your health and wellbeing this season What diet drinks don’t have aspartame in them?

The Phoenix Suns traded Chris Paul to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Bradley Beal on Sunday. It's safe to say CP3 did not know about the move in advance.The general motto of the NBA transactional market is that "anything can happen." At least, that's how Chris Paul lo...

Pope Francis celebrated an open-air Mass before a huge crowd on Sunday at a riverside park near Lisbon to wrap up an...

SYDNEY Consumer confidence in New Zealand rose in October but more remained wary about purchasing major household items,

By Leika Kihara TOKYO The Bank of Japan has stepped up its drum beat of hawkish comments over

Andrew Tate's house arrest has been extended, so he's passing the time by posting videos of himself riding his Bugatti...scooter that is. The disgraced influencer uploaded the clip to Twitter, of him riding around the house on his electric scooter, joined by a number of people along the way, all riding the same one. It comes after he confessed to buying 10 'Bugatti scooters' after his Bugatti cars were seized in a raid by Romanian police. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter

WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther recently lauded the performance of US Champion Logan Paul

'You don't have to love me, and you can love somebody else. It's okay,' Gina Miles told viewers who did not support her win

President Joe Biden’s itinerary this week in Europe is dominated by the ongoing war in Ukraine

Travis Barker's daughter Alabama Barker takes a dig at paparazzi for 'trying to make her look fat'

Choosing a printer may sound easy. But once you start diving into all the available

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez has revealed how he is trying to tempt Lionel Messi to join him at Aston Villa.