American Cancer Society

John Held, Communications Director

Now, there is another reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle: according to the American Cancer Society, being overweight is a risk factor for many forms of cancer. A new nationwide survey commissioned by the American Cancer Society finds that while 83 percent of Americans recognize the link between being overweight and having heart disease and 57 percent know the link to diabetes, only eight percent understand that there is a connection between obesity or overweight and the risk of cancer.

Being overweight is a risk factor for many forms of cancer, including breast cancer among post-menopausal women and colorectal cancer. It is estimated that about one-third of the 564,830 cancer deaths expected to occur in the United States in 2006 will be attributable to poor nutrition, physical inactivity and being overweight or obese. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight, 30 percent of which are obese.

The most effective ways to reduce cancer risk are maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, eating a healthy diet and refraining from smoking. As many as one-third of all cancer deaths can be prevented—not through complicated procedures or expensive medications, but through simple nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle choices that we all make every day.

Healthy lifestyle changes are easier when individuals live, work, play or go to school in an environment that supports healthy behaviors. For this reason, the American Cancer Society helps communities work together to create a healthy environment where everyone has access to healthy food choices and safe places to be active. The following are just a few initiatives that the American Cancer Society has taken to promote healthful living:

  • School Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) is the first training program in the country for school health coordinators. SHLI brings together educators and administrators to develop action plans for making their students healthier, thereby significantly lowering students’ risk of developing cancer and other diseases in adulthood.
  • Body and Soul is a faith-based outreach program for African-Americans that reinforces the importance of a healthy diet in decreasing the risk of cancer and other diseases. The program teaches participants the skills they need to change their behavior and provides them with social support from church mentors to make healthier food choices and take steps to ensure a healthier future.
  • The Great American Eat Right Challenge is a campaign designed to build awareness of the link between obesity or overweight and cancer, and to motivate people to take action to live a healthier lifestyle. The Great American Eat Right Challenge website, www.cancer.org/eatright, provides tips and tools to help people take steps toward better health through improved diets and habits like portion control. In addition to information about how to fit more nutrient-packed fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into each day, the site features a healthy eating quiz, calorie calculator, and recipes.

The American Cancer Society helps people learn what they can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce their cancer risk. Visit www.cancer.org or call the American Cancer Society’s toll-free number at 1-800-ACS-2345 to receive more information on nutrition and physical activity.