Women with wide waists face higher cancer risk

 Most people think men carry more weight around their tummy, but the reality is that women are way out in front.

Forty-four per cent of women in England have a large waistline linked to a range of cancers and other diseases, compared to 32 per cent of men, government figures show.

Experts say a healthy waist measurement for women is less than 31.5 inches (80cm), while white and black men should keep to less than 37 inches (94cm). Asian men should keep their waist measurement below 35 inches (90cm), reports the Daily Mail.

A World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) spokesman called on both sexes to think about slimming if they are overweight or have a big waist.

In Britain, 29 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women are “abdominally obese” which means they are carrying excess body fat that increases the risk of all cancers. It is strongly linked to cancers of the bowel, pancreas, breast and womb lining. Bigger waistlines also increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for the WCRF, said people should measure their waistline and their body mass index to check if they are at risk.