Chips are West Midlands’ favourite junk food with chocolate coming in second place, a new survey conducted by World Cancer Research Fund has found. The survey comes as the cancer prevention charity launches its new “Dump the Junk” campaign for Cancer Prevention Week. The survey also revealed that in the UK more than a quarter of Brits (27%) have named chocolate as their favourite junk food, with a third (33%) of women picking the sugary snack as their ultimate guilty pleasure. Top of the list for men was chips, with nearly a quarter (23%) naming chips as their favourite junk food. The research also revealed that when it comes to how often Brits are indulging in their naughty nibbles, 86% admitted to eating their favourite junk food up to five times a week.
World Cancer Research Fund has launched its new campaign, Dump the Junk, to encourage people to give up one of their favourite junk food, such as eating chocolate, chips or crisps. By taking part in this campaign they hope that people will start to feel the benefits from eating a healthier diet – just in time for the summer - as well as raise funds for cancer prevention. Those taking part can ask friends and family to sponsor them, donate the money they save from cutting out their vice or they can pay a fine if they decide to cheat.
Eating too many calories can lead to weight gain and evidence from World Cancer Research Fund shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk of 11 common cancers such as bowel and breast cancer. In fact, after not smoking, being a healthy weight is the most important thing a person can do to reduce their cancer risk. Around 25,000 cancer cases could be prevented in the UK every year if everyone was a healthy weight.
Cutting 100 calories from a daily diet, the equivalent of one and a half digestive biscuits, could cumulatively prevent an extra stone in body weight a year.
Sarah Toule, Head of Health Information at World Cancer Research Fund, said:
“Many people don’t realize how much sugar, fat and salt can be found in a lot of the food they eat on a daily basis and it’s not just the usual suspects. These ingredients are particularly bad for us and can lead to people becoming overweight or obese which increases the risk of cancer.
“Our survey showed that over 90% of Brits don’t think that an addiction to sugar is why it’s hard for them to give up their favourite sugary junk food. However, continuously eating sugary food and drinks will gradually lead to a dependency on sugar. So why not Dump the Junk and kick that habit this June?”
World Cancer Research Fund has healthy recipes to try if people need some inspiration swapping some of their usual treats. If you are interested in taking part please visit www.dumpthejunk.org.uk or follow @WCRF_UK on Twitter using the hashtag #DumptheJunk.
