OVERWEIGHT people are being urged to shed the pounds to reduce their risk of getting cancer.
Obesity has been shown to be more likely to cause bowel, kidney, ovarian and liver cancers in the UK than smoking.
And now health bosses across Coventry and Warwickshire are urging those affected to lose weight.
Extra body fat sends signals telling cells to divide more often and – similar to smoking – can cause damage which raises the risk of cancer.
Coventry, Rugby and south Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Groups’ cancer spokesman Jim McMorran said: “The risk is higher the more weight a person gains and the longer they are overweight for, but the good news is small changes kept up over time can make a real difference.
“Maintaining a healthy weight is not only beneficial in relation to reducing your cancer risk, but also in reducing the risk of other significant conditions so it’s really important to eat well and exercise regularly.”
Those who are overweight are urged to contact their GP for advice.