Colorectal cancer study to track diet and lifestyle of thousands of young adults

Jeff Moore/PA Wire

By Ella Pickover, PA Media

A quarter of a million people are needed for a new study to investigate why colorectal cancer cases are rising among younger adults.

It was once a disease found mainly in older adults but figures suggest cases are rising among adults under the age of 50.

Experts said early-onset colorectal cancer has increased “substantially” around the world since 1990, and the UK has one of the fastest rising rates.

It is not clear what is driving the rise, though obesity is thought to be a potential factor.

Experts at King’s College London and health science company Zoe want 250,000 adults across the UK to take part in the study.

The trial, known as Prospect-UK, will track people over time, looking at diet and lifestyle factors.

Participants will complete online questionnaires on their diet, lifestyle, environment, health and other factors.

They will also be asked for their information to be linked to their electronic health records so researchers can track cancer cases.