Exercising outdoors to combat obesity 'can reduce cancer risk'
06/05/2010 Avoiding obesity by exercising outdoors can help reduce a child's risk of developing cancer later in life, according to one expert.
Tam Fry, National Obesity Forum board member and chair for the Child Growth Foundation, said that many people are still unaware of the relationship between being overweight and developing cancer.
He added that research shows children are often obese before they start school, suggesting that more need to be encouraged to spend time exercising outdoors from a young age.
A contributing factor towards the increasing levels of obesity was said to be too much junk food.
"All the research is starting to show that people are watching more television - that is because people are staying in more rather than going out. They are not exercising and the weight is piling on," Mr Fry added.
The comments come after a recent study by New York University revealed that obese adults who were overweight as children were twice as likely to develop colon cancer as those who were consistently a normal weight.
Tam Fry, National Obesity Forum board member and chair for the Child Growth Foundation, said that many people are still unaware of the relationship between being overweight and developing cancer.
He added that research shows children are often obese before they start school, suggesting that more need to be encouraged to spend time exercising outdoors from a young age.
A contributing factor towards the increasing levels of obesity was said to be too much junk food.
"All the research is starting to show that people are watching more television - that is because people are staying in more rather than going out. They are not exercising and the weight is piling on," Mr Fry added.
The comments come after a recent study by New York University revealed that obese adults who were overweight as children were twice as likely to develop colon cancer as those who were consistently a normal weight.
