‘Western diet’ blamed for growing risk of GI cancers among young adults

The rates of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are rising among young adults, with a new peer-reviewed study pointing to the American diet and lifestyle as the primary culprits.

The rising risk in younger generations may be linked more to environmental factors than genetics, stated the report, which was recently published in the British Journal of Surgery.

“Some shared risk factors for early-onset (EO) GI cancer include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking,” lead researcher Sara Char, M.D., at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, told Fox News Digital.

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The study notes that recent generations are more likely to adopt a “Western-pattern diet” and a “sedentary lifestyle.”

Colorectal is the most common type of early-onset GI cancer, but pancreatic, esophageal, gastric, biliary, appendiceal and neuroendocrine cancers are also rising in adults under 50, Char noted.

Adults born in 1990 have twice the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950, according to a previous study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

How diet impacts risk

Paul Oberstein, M.D., director of the Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, told Fox News Digital that a person’s diet does indeed impact the risk of colon cancer.

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“It is reported from previous studies that when someone has a higher amount of foods typical of a Western diet, they have a higher risk of colon cancer,” said Oberstein, who was not involved in the research.

A “Western diet” typically includes a higher intake of red and processed meats, processed and added sugars, and highly processed and refined grains, according to the oncologist.

Processed deli meats, sugary drinks and processed grain snacks are also commonly associated with this type of diet. 

Research and recommendations

While the incidence of colon cancer in this group overall remains low, Oberstein recommends investing in more research to explore which factors are causing the increase.

“We need to conduct more research on whether diet, vitamin supplements, alcohol or other things we ingest or use are contributing to this increase,” he said. 

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The expert also emphasized the importance of following the recommended colon cancer screening guidelines, which begin at 45 years old for most people, and seeking medical attention if any symptoms appear.

Common warning signs include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained back or abdominal pain, or unintentional weight loss, all of which warrant speaking to a doctor for an “urgent evaluation,” according to Char.

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The researcher added that younger individuals can take preventative measures such as not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol, limiting red meat consumption, staying physically active and maintaining a healthy body weight.