Miles Briggs MSP calls for comprehensive obesity strategy to help reduce preventable cancer.
Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs has called on the Scottish Government to ensure its forthcoming obesity strategy is as comprehensive as possible in order to help reduce the incidence on preventable cancer in Scotland. Miles was speaking in a Member’s debate in Parliament on cancer and obesity ahead of World Cancer Day next week.
Speaking in the debate Miles, who is a Co-Convenor of the Parliament’s Cross Party Group (CPG) on Cancer and is the Shadow Minister for Public Health, said:
“Our Cancer CPG recently heard from Professor Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy at the University of Stirling, about cancer prevention and she outlined how with good health 4 in 10 cancers are preventable, in particular highlighting that obesity is the single largest cause of preventable cancer in Scotland after smoking. I commend Professor Bauld for the excellent work she is undertaking around cancer prevention. It is estimated that obesity is responsible for around 18,100 cancers in the UK every year and if current trends continue, it will lead to a further 670,000 cancer cases over the next 20 years. There is also a concerning lack of awareness around the risks of being overweight and obese with only one in four adults aware that being overweight could cause cancer.
The motion today emphasises the scale of the challenge we are facing given so many adults and children are overweight and obese, especially in more deprived communities. It is of real concern that the gap between the least and most deprived is widening when it comes to obesity.
“Scotland also has the worst weight outcomes of all the UK nations and indeed is one of the worst performing of any OECD nation. It is clear therefore that the Scottish Government’s forthcoming obesity strategy must be as comprehensive as possible and offer practical policies around the twin themes of diet and exercise. The Health & Sport Committee has been taking evidence in advance of the strategy and it is clear that it also must offer a joined up approach which works across education, local government and transport as well as the health portfolio. I agree with Cancer Research UK that the strategy must also be underpinned by clear and enforceable targets and interventions that are robustly monitored and evaluated.
“As well as the critical importance of tackling obesity in the population if we are to scale down cancer by slowing to the rise in cancer incidence, Macmillan Cancer Support’s briefing for today rightly points out that it is also important to understand just how valuable physical activity is for people diagnosed with cancer. Physical exercise can in some cases significantly reduce the risk of dying from cancer and Macmillan Cancer is right to call for physical activity to become a standard part of care for cancer patients. The charity’s excellent “Move More” programme of exercise for cancer sufferers is currently running in Edinburgh and some areas and it is important patients are signposted to these and similar services. Macmillan also seeks comprehensive rehabilitation services to include physiotherapy, exercise on referral, commissioned schemes in leisure centres and signposting to walking and other exercise groups.”
