Colorectal Cancer Young Koreans: Western Diet Risk

SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – Colorectal cancer,⁢ long considered‍ a “Western disease,” is surging ⁢in South Korea, particularly among people in thier 20s and​ 30s, ⁤where cases are​ growing at an annual ‌rate of ⁤about 4 percent.A new study‌ has identified Western-style eating habits as a major driver of teh trend.

A joint research team‌ led ⁤by Kang Dae-hee of Seoul National University’s​ Department of Preventive Medicine and Shin⁣ Sang-ah of Chung-Ang University’s​ Department of Food and Nutrition analyzed⁤ 82 cohort studies from five Asian countries ⁣-‌ South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Singapore.

The findings,published in the international journal Cancer Causes & Control mark the⁤ first large-scale meta-analysis on diet and colorectal cancer risk ​focused on Asian populations.

Meat, Processed Foods, and Alcohol Raise Risk

The study found a clear association‌ between meat-heavy diets and colorectal cancer.​ High​ consumption of red meat raised risk by 18 percent, ⁢while processed meats such ⁤as sausages and ham increased it by the same⁢ margin on their own. White meats like chicken and turkey were not broadly linked to ‍colorectal cancer but were associated with a 40 percent higher ⁢risk of ⁣rectal cancer specifically.