Fry-up a day raises cancer risk by 63%

PEOPLE who tuck into a fry-up every day could have a 63% higher chance of developing bowel cancer, a charity warned yesterday.

Eating processed meats like sausages and bacon increases the risk while extra calories can lead to obesity, which is linked to many types of cancer, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) said.

A typical breakfast with fried eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes can contain about 700 calories. Extras like black pudding and fried bread push the calorie content even higher while saturated fat is also known to contribute to the risk of heart disease.

According to the WCRF, there is convincing scientific evidence that excess body fat is linked to six different types of cancer, including bowel and breast cancer.

Experts believe that, after not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the most important thing people can do to prevent getting the disease.

The WCRF warned that eating 150g of processed meat a day — the equivalent of about two sausages and three rashers of bacon — increases the bowel cancer risk by 63%. Evidence that processed meat is a cause of bowel cancer is so strong that people should avoid eating it, the charity said.

Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific advisor for the WCRF, said: “For some people, having a fry-up with bacon and sausages might seem like a good way to start the day. But if you are doing this regularly then you are significantly increasing your risk of bowel cancer, which is one of the most common cancers.

“Only a third of people are aware of the link between processed meat and cancer, which means two thirds of people are not in a position to make an informed choice about how much of it they eat. The more processed meat you eat, the greater your risk. For example, if you eat 150g of it a day then you will be increasing your bowel cancer risk by about two thirds. But if you only eat 50g a day — roughly the equivalent of a sausage — then you will be increasing your risk by about a fifth.

“As well as the processed meat increasing the risk of bowel cancer, fry-ups also tend to be high in calories. We recommend people limit consumption of high-calorie or energy-dense foods because eating them regularly makes you more likely to gain weight.”

Prof Wiseman said scientists estimate that about a third of cancers could be prevented by eating healthily, taking regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.