As cancer and diabetes patients get younger and younger, Kent GP Dr Manpinder Sahota explores some of the root causes and says prevention is better than cure...

Why are rates of all types of cancer, especially bowel cancer, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, dementia and many other health conditions being diagnosed at younger ages?

It must be a combination of poor nutrition, lack of exercise, poor air quality and our lack of contact with nature, with most young people addicted to their mobile phones.

All these factors combine and we are seeing too many young people diagnosed with conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes and bowel cancer. Older people too are being diagnosed earlier with cancer, heart disease and dementia.

The main culprits are ultra-processed foods and I would urge all families to watch the Panorama documentary on this topic. But there is also a lack of regular physical exercise, which has been shown to reduce the risk of breast and bowel cancer by 20-30%. Even cancer patients improve their risk of survival by exercising.

Where you live also has a major impact through the quality of air, amount of green spaces and how many junk food shops are on your doorstep.

I feel having health coaches would be vital, not only at schools but also within GP surgeries and workplaces. Children should be motivated by health coaches and this would also improve their grades.

Patients would get regular health coaching appointments alongside taking diabetes, blood pressure or heart medication.

The ‘cake culture’ within workplaces would be tackled and employees coached to improve mental and physical health.

Health coaches could save the NHS and social care services billions of pounds annually.

Health prevention and promotion are definitely much better than the cure.

Dr Sahota is part of the GP team at Pelham Medical Practice in Gravesend, KCC obesity champion and medical director of Vitality Home Health.