'Most Unaware That Beer Belly Increases Cancer Risk'

The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society warned on Tuesday that many people in the city are unaware of a link between having a "beer belly" and the risk of developing diseases.

The society said it polled around 520 people across different age groups about their drinking habits, and whether they were aware of the harmful effects of alcohol.

The survey found that 70 percent of those who reported having a "beer belly" had consumed alcohol in the past three months.

But around half of the respondents did not know that excess weight in that area of the body can be linked to cancer.

The chairman of the society's cancer education committee, Dr Rico Liu, said that for those who drink regularly, there's an increased risk of oropharynx, oesophageal, stomach, liver, colon, and breast cancers.

"Obesity is a known cancer risk, and it’s known to increase the risk of various cancers and part of it is because of body weight increase," Liu said.

He explained that the relationship between obesity and cancer is partly related to insulin, and how body weight increase disturbs the hormone.

"So, increased body weight is a risk factor and it not only affects the risk on our blood vessel health or diabetes problem, it’s actually carrying an increased risk of cancer," he said.

Liu also said that persistent drinking also reduces immunity and increases the risks of having infection, and urged people to be aware that drinking alcohol contributes to one's calorie intake.

"If you reduce or stop drinking at all, you will reduce calorie intake, and through that you’ll reduce body weight," Liu said.