Obese boozers at triple risk of getting cancer

Experts call for weekly alcohol limits to be slashed

- MARTIN BAGOT

DRINKING limits should be slashed for overweight people because alcohol causes them greater harm, scientists say.

Public health bosses have been told drinking guidelines should be lowered for the obese as they are three times more likely to develop booze-related cancers.

And even moderate drinkers who kept within the recommended units were at 53% higher risk if they were carrying too much weight.

This compared to a 19% increased cancer risk of drinking within guidelines for those of healthy weight, the study of data on nearly 400,000 UK adults revealed.

Being overweight or obese also made drinkers more likely to develop liver disease, a separate study found.