PEOPLE are being encouraged to be more active after new figures revealed a link between obesity and kidney cancer.

According to Cancer Research UK, an estimated 20,000 kidney cancer cases have been caused by obesity over the last decade in England.

Across the North-East, the rates have increased by 27 per cent over the same period.

Ten years ago, around 345 people were diagnosed with kidney cancer every year in the region. Today, 490 people are diagnosed in the region every year – around 295 men and 195 women.

Cancer Research UK projections show that by 2035 rates are predicted to increase by a further 26 per cent in the UK, making kidney cancer one of the fastest growing cancer types.

Around a quarter of kidney cancer cases are linked to carrying excess weight, and 24 per cent are linked to smoking.

Lisa Millett, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in the North-East, said: “It can be challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle but just making a few small changes can have a real impact.

“One way for women to get a little more active is to sign up to take part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life events which are taking place across the North-East.”

Research shows obesity is linked to 13 types of cancer, including kidney cancer. Scientists have yet to unravel exactly how being overweight or obese causes kidney cancer, but one explanation could be insulin resistance.

Insulin is a hormone important in the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats, and the kidneys help process this hormone. Excess weight can lead to insulin resistance, which can cause levels of insulin to rise, telling cells to divide more rapidly.

The charity advises that while not all kidney cancer cases are preventable, there are steps that people can take to cut their risk of developing the disease.

These include things like choosing sugar free drinks, eating meals at roughly the same time each day, and trying to hit 10,000 steps a day.

Every year there are around 11,900 cases of kidney cancer in the UK – 7,400 cases in men and 4,500 cases diagnosed in women. Every year about 4,300 people die from the disease.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK’s head of health information, said: “It’s concerning to see kidney cancer cases rising like this. Being overweight or obese is linked to 13 types of cancer, including kidney which is becoming more and more common.

“Similar to smoking, where damage to cells builds up over time and increases the risk of cancer, damage from carrying excess weight accumulates over a person’s lifetime.

“Making small changes in eating, drinking and being physically active that you can stick with in the long term, is a good way to get to a healthy weight and stay there.”