Experts are warning that rates of bowel cancer are rising in young adults for no apparent reason.

Although Cancer Research UK says the disease still affects older people more, the increase in people under 50 in many countries is worrying.

England is one of the countries with the highest growth, increasing by an average of 3.6% per year, researchers report in the journal Lancet Oncology,

Researchers say poor diet and obesity may be among the risk factors involved.

Eat too much processed meat And not having enough fiber can increase the risk.

The study of 50 countries between 2007 and 2017 found that 27 countries saw an increase in cases among young people.

American Cancer Society investigators say many were rich countries but some were developing countries.

“The increase in early-onset colorectal cancer is a global phenomenon,” said Dr. Hyuna Sung, one of the authors.

“Previous studies have shown this increase primarily in high-income Western countries – but now, it is documented in different economies and regions around the world.”

And people need to be aware of early signs and symptoms, such as blood in the stool.

Other symptoms may include:

• Persistent change in bowel habits – more frequent, with loose stools
• stomach pain, discomfort, or bloating

Rates of stress remain low among young adults in Cancer Research UK, with one in 20 bowel cancer diagnoses in the UK occurring in people under the age of 50.

Of the 44,100 new cases in the UK each year, about 2,600 were in people aged 25–49.

Spokesman John Shelton said: “The number of early bowel-cancer cases in the UK each year for both men and women is very low, so it is difficult to say with certainty why rates are rising rapidly in one group. ” over another.”

But risk factors such as diet, obesity, alcohol and smoking may be involved.

“Improvements in detection, meaning people are being diagnosed at younger ages, may also play a significant role in the higher rates,” Mr Shelton said.

Dr. David Robert Grimes, an expert in biostatistics at Trinity College, Dublin, said more research is needed.

“This finding is interesting – but we need to resist the urge to jump to conclusions, especially in the case of contradictory and complex data,” he said.

“Although the headline may seem worrying in isolation, it may also mean that screening and better detection are allowing us to catch cancer earlier.”

Dame Deborah James, who died of bowel cancer aged 40, was inspired to share her experience on social media and urge people to “check your poo” and get tested if they notice any irregularities in their bowel movements. The request was widely praised.

The mother of two, known to many as Bowelbabe, also hosted and produced BBC Sounds’ ‘You, Me and the Big C’ podcast. documentary About living with illness.