Online quiz reveals your health risks

Results show which parts of the body could be most at risk and suggest foods or supplements that may help. Photo / iStock

A quiz to reveal individuals' risks of serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease or bowl problems has been formulated by a cancer expert and gastroenterologist.

A series of 15 questions have been compiled around diet and lifestyle aspects that can raise or lower risks of disease affecting the body's organs.

Developed in association with Professor Martyn Caplin at London's Royal Free Hospital, Caplin says poor diet causes up to 10 per cent of cancers and rises to 25 per cent when obesity is considered.

The quiz questions also cover Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking, exercise levels and for women with children, whether they have ever breastfed.

Genetic factors are noted too with questions about whether a person or their relatives carry the BCRA gene mutation, which raises the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Take the quiz here

(Due to high demand, the quiz may take some time to load).

At the completion of the questionnaire users are shown their 'Health Risk Barometer' which reveals whether they have a low, average or high risk of contracting serious diseases compared to the average.

Results also detail which parts of the body could be most at risk and suggest foods or supplements that may help.

For example, for someone whose results show trouble with their pancreas, they will be recommended a diet high in selenium, turmeric and green tea.

The results prescribe supplements for people who may have difficulty accessing the real thing, but the World Cancer Research Fund advises against taking supplements.

According to its website, "The best scientific evidence shows that taking high-dose supplements of some nutrients can affect your risk of different cancers in unpredictable ways".

It advises for most people, the best source of nutrition is a healthy diet.

While the quiz was developed using medical expertise, the creators, dietandcancer.co.uk, warn it is not a validated medical tool and individuals should always seek advice and treatment from their doctor.

- nzherald.co.nz