Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of whether there is a link between dieting and the risk of breast cancer.

An assessment of dieting and risk of breast cancer has not been undertaken. However, the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy concluded in 1995 that greater adiposity, particularly central adiposity, and weight gain during adulthood, increase the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer. This can be viewed at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/743526/Nutritional_Aspects_of_the_Development_of_Cancer__1995_.pdf

This conclusion has been supported by high quality systematic reviews and international organisations such as the World Cancer Research Fund. This can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/breast-cancer

The Government advises that having a healthy lifestyle, which includes maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and having healthy, balanced diet, can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer.