(NewsNation) — There’s been a big push for self-love over the years, which has resonated with younger generations, but a new study is raising concerns from health professionals that the mindset could be doing people a disservice.
A study from the UK shows cancer cases among British adults between 25 and 30 have spiked roughly 25% in the past two decades.
Health officials are calling it a “scientific conundrum” that urgently needs to be solved as the uptick in early-onset cancer may be linked to unhealthy eating habits and surging obesity rates.
A recent report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies revealed a 50% increase in people eating fast food.
“Broadly, we are seeing a rise in colorectal cancer in young adults,” said Pamela Kunz, director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. “That’s defined as under the age of 50. We’re seeing a rise of 2% per year since the 1990s.”
That adds up to thousands every year.
Obesity and being overweight at all ages is associated with cancers of the ovary, kidney, colon and rectum, gallbladder, liver, upper stomach, pancreas and thyroid.