We know that overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet and drinking alcohol all contribute to cancer risk. There are also indications that a healthy lifestyle can improve quality of life for cancer patients and reduce the risk of the disease recurring.
Much of the evidence of these links has emerged only in the past decade. It continues to be a busy area of research and one that has attracted significant media and public interest. There are almost daily reports of new research claiming certain foods can reduce our cancer risk, exposing the public to messages which are often conflicting and inconsistent.
Many people look to the Cancer Council to help interpret this new data and provide clear recommendations on what they can do to minimise their cancer risk through improved nutrition and physical activity. Cancer Council Australia’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee has developed a range of key messages and position statements to assist in this area.