One in four breast cancer deaths are linked to six avoidable factors including red meat and obesity, research has shown.

The study, published in The Lancet Oncology, called for a greater focus on healthy lifestyles to reduce the number of women dying from breast cancer globally.

It warned that rates of the disease are rising much more quickly in women under 55 than in older women, which may be linked to poorer diets among younger generations.

The researchers, from the University of Washington, analysed global data on breast cancer cases and deaths between 1990 and 2023.

They found that 28 per cent of all healthy years lost to breast cancer are because of six lifestyle factors: eating red meat, smoking, high blood sugar, obesity, alcohol and lack of exercise. Red meat consumption had the biggest impact, linked to nearly 11 per cent of all healthy life lost, followed by tobacco use at 8 per cent.

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There are 55,900 new cases of the disease each year in the UK, and 11,000 deaths. In 2023, there were an estimated 2.3 million new breast cancer cases worldwide and 764,000 deaths. However, this is expected to reach 3.5 million by 2050, with deaths forecasted to increase to 1.4 million.

The study raised alarm about rising rates in younger women. While breast cancer is more common in women aged over 55, rates of cases in those aged 20 to 54 have risen by 29 per cent since 1990, while rates in older women have not changed substantially.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide.

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The study called for “aggressive prevention strategies” to help combat the projected rise in breast cancer cases.

Co-senior author Dr Marie Ng said: “With more than a quarter of the global breast cancer burden linked to six modifiable lifestyle changes there are tremendous opportunities to alter the trajectory of breast cancer risk for the next generation.

“Targeting known risk factors through public health policies and making healthier choices more accessible, while working with individuals to take action to reduce obesity and high blood sugar, is crucial to halting the rise in breast cancers worldwide.”

Claire Rowney, the chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “This new global study is a stark reminder that breast cancer is a disease that continues to take and rip apart far too many lives, not just here but around the world.

“We’re determined to realise our bold ambition that by 2050, everyone with breast cancer will live and live well, and we’re accelerating progress through building global collaborations with researchers and funders, as together we can go further, faster to ensure that every woman, no matter where she lives, can access early diagnosis, effective treatment and the support she needs.”

Sophie Brooks, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “These figures are a sad reminder of the heavy toll breast cancer continues to take on women around the world.

“Prevention remains a key way to reduce rates, with a significant number of cases globally linked to preventable factors like smoking, [being] overweight and obesity, and alcohol.”