Health experts warn Australia is facing a cancer epidemic because of childhood obesity. Body fat is considered a major cause of preventable cancer deaths. It is ranked second to smoking.
Around ten million people are expected to develop cancer world wide this year alone.
But while tobacco and exposure to sun are well known causes, researchers are now closely observing its links with obesity.
There is fear that increasing numbers of overweight children face a greater risk of developing cancer as overweight adults.
David Currow of Cancer Voices, says the obesity link is particularly important for future generations.
David Currow, cancer voices, said, "Lots of lifestyle opportunities are there for us all to reduce our risks of cancer and the evidence is that if we reduced our obesity rates, reduced our infection rates for things like Hepatitis B and Human Papaloma Virus, reduced our tobacco use and reduced our UV sun exposure, we would reduce our cancer rates by 40 percent, in the next generation."
Experts say around three percent of common cancers are thought to be directly linked with obesity.
They want this message to be highlighted, particularly for children.
Professor Ian Oliver, cancer council of Australia, said, "Well look, people are aware of our messages about sun smart and tobacco control but they're not as aware of the link between obesity and common cancers like bowel cancer and breast cancer."
Australia spends nearly 3 billion dollars each year treating people with cancer. But with the number of new cases predicted to rise dramatically, so will the cost of cancer care.
