Women are more likely to have a large waistline than men - a feature that places them at an increased risk of developing cancer, experts have warned.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), 44 per cent of women in England have an elevated waist circumference compared to just 32 per cent of men.
Excess body fat is known to increase an individual's risk of cancer and a large waistline is thought to be associated with various forms of disease, including cancers of the bowel, pancreas, breast and womb lining.
Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for WCRF, said that, despite common belief, women in England 'are more likely to have a raised waist circumference than men'.
'Over the last few years the evidence has become increasingly strong that excess body fat, and particularly fat carried around the middle, is a cancer risk factor,' she revealed.
'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.'
Dr Thompson advised both men and women to measure their waistline and calculate their body mass index (BMI), which gives an indication of whether or not an individual is overweight.
'If you have a large waist measurement or are in the overweight or obese range, then you can take steps to move towards a healthy weight,' she added.
Ed Yong, Cancer Research UK's head of health information, told the Guardian that maintaining a healthy body weight is 'one of the most important ways of reducing the risk of cancer'.
He revealed: 'Fat around the middle is surprisingly active, releasing hormones and other chemicals that can make cells in the body divide far more often than usual, which can increase the risk of cancer.'