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Around half of Britons are unaware of the relationship between poor diet and increased risk of cancer, a study shows.
Some 46% of people do not understand the connection between unhealthy foods and the disease, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) said.
Researchers also found that 53% of adults do not know that obesity can cause cancer, while only 33% know that regular exercise can cut the chances of developing the disease.
The study also shows that in the UK, people in Scotland are the most clued up about cancer: 57% are aware of the link with being overweight.
But this has not helped the country so far, as Scotland has the highest rate of cancer in the UK, and many cases can be attributed to a poor diet.
Furthermore, only 35% of Britons know that drinking alcohol can increase the chances of having cancer.
WCRF general manager Lucie Galice said: “As a charity we are committed to spreading the message that healthy eating, physical activity and weight management can reduce cancer risk, but the results of this survey show all too clearly that there is still a long way to go.
“It is a reminder that both the public sector and the voluntary sector need to do better at informing the public that if they are overweight, have a poor diet, and are not physically active, then they can be putting themselves at a higher risk of cancer.”
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WCRF: www.wcrf-uk.org
