Women with large waistlines may need cancer treatment from their private medical cover providers

A large waistline can mean that women are more likely to need private medical cover treatment for cancer, it has been suggested.

According to charity The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), nearly half of all women in England are at increased risk of developing certain cancers because of waistlines that a larger than is healthy.

Based on figures from the recent Health Survey for England, 44 per cent of women have a waist size exceeding 31.5 inches (80cm).

Previous research has shown a link between waistlines of this size and cancers such as bowel and breast cancer.

While a third of men were also found that a third of men have a larger than recommended waste size, the WCRF said it was often thought that females are less likely to put on weight around their stomach.

"But these statistics show that, actually, women in England are more likely to have a raised waist circumference than men," said Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for WCRF.

"This is why it is important that we let women know that this is just as relevant for them, particularly as breast and endometrial cancers account for about a third of newly diagnosed cancers in women."

According to a recent study of all 27 European Union states by the Association of Public Health Observatories, the UK tops the table of the unhealthiest nations in a number of key areas, including obesity.

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