What is the Bowelbabe charity and how did it contribute to this study?

The Bowelbabe charity was set up by the late Sun columnist Dame Deborah James before her death in 2022. The charity has raised £19 million for Cancer Research UK, which funded the study that found a link between junk food and bowel polyp risk in young women.

How much junk food increases the risk of bowel polyps in women under 50?

The study found that women who ate 10 servings of ultra-processed foods per day had a 45% higher risk of developing bowel polyps compared to those who ate just 3 servings per day.

Why are bowel cancer rates rising faster in younger adults?

According to the article, bowel cancer rates are rising 24% faster among 24 to 49-year-olds compared to other age groups since 1995. Experts believe factors like diet, lack of exercise, and gut microbiome disruption may all play a role in this troubling trend.

Home / Health / Junk Food Linked to Bowel Cancer Risk in Young Women

Junk Food Linked to Bowel Cancer Risk in Young Women

13 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Charity-funded study finds junk food raises polyp risk in women under 50
45% higher polyp risk for those eating 10 vs 3 servings of ultra-processed foods per day
Bowel cancer rates rising faster in 24-49 age group than any other

Junk Food Linked to Bowel Cancer Risk in Young Women

According to a study published on 2025-11-13, women under the age of 50 who consume large amounts of junk food may face an increased risk of developing bowel polyps, which can potentially lead to cancer. The research was funded by the Bowelbabe charity, set up by the late Sun columnist Dame Deborah James.

The study, which analyzed 24 years of medical records from 29,000 women, found that those who ate 10 servings of ultra-processed foods per day had a 45% higher chance of developing polyps compared to those who consumed just 3 servings. Ultra-processed foods, such as biscuits, crisps, and ready meals, are often high in salt, sugar, and other potentially harmful chemicals.

Experts say this finding could help explain the worrying trend of rising bowel cancer rates among younger adults. Cancer Research UK has reported a 24% increase in bowel cancer cases among 24 to 49-year-olds since 1995, with the disease on the rise in under-50s in 27 out of 50 countries studied.