1. Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Why it’s important for cancer societies to focus on nutrition, physical activity, alcohol and
overweight & obesity
3 Nov 2016, am
World Cancer Congress
Louise Codling
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
OBESITY PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Setting the scene
Focus on epidemiological link, our science and research work
Then highlighting how this is translated into policy recommendations
About WCRF Int.
Abou
We fund research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk
We interpret the accumulated scientific literature in the field of cancer, food, nutrition, body fatness, physical activity and alcohol, and use this to derive Recommendations for Cancer Prevention
We educate people through our national Health Information Departments
We advocate wider implementation of effective policies through our international Policy and Public Affairs Department
We do all this to help people and populations to implement our Recommendations and thereby reduce their chances of developing cancer
t me

2. Preventability estimates
In higher-income countries:
About a third of the most common cancers could be prevented by choosing a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight
In lower-income countries:
About a quarter of the most common cancers could be prevented by choosing a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight
Estimates for how much cancer could be prevented by having a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight
Produced for 4 countries:
USA, UK (high-income countries) Brazil (middle-income) and China (low-income)
UK estimates used for NL and HK
Produced for 13 cancer sites:
Mouth, pharynx & larynx; oesophagus, lung, stomach pancreas, gallbladder, liver, bowel, breast, endometrium, ovary, prostate, kidney
SO HOW DID WE GET TO THESE ESTIMATES? – LINK TO CUP…NEXT SLIDE

3. Continuous Update Project (CUP)
Analyses global cancer prevention and survival research linked to diet, nutrition and physical activity.
Develops the work of the First and Second Expert Reports published in 1997 and 2007.
Ongoing review and captures new research from around the world as it is published.
Trusted, authoritative scientific resource, which underpins current guidelines and policy for cancer prevention.
Ensures the World Cancer Research Fund network Recommendations for Cancer Prevention are based on the latest evidence.
The scientific basis for our cancer preventio
2nd expert report:
Published in November 2007
Most comprehensive review of lifestyle and cancer
Diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity are major determinants of cancer risk
Recommendations:
Personal
Public Health Goals
Underpins WCRF network activities
n recommendations
CUP database:
World’s largest central resource for scientific evidence on cancer, diet, weight and physical activity. It’s continually updated as papers are published.
Over 4,400 papers on prevention and survival
CUP publications:
Published:
Breast cancer report 2010
Colorectal(bowel) cancer report 2011
Pancreatic cancer report 2012
Endometrial(womb) cancer report 2013
Ovarian cancer report 2014
Other activities:
Developing a systematic approach to reviewing evidence on mechanisms on how diet, weight and physical activity affect cancer risk and survival

4. NOURISHING framework

5. NOURISHING framework
Aim: formalise a comprehensive package of policies to promote healthy diets and reduce obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Policymakers
To identify where action is needed to promote healthy diets
Select and tailor options suitable to different populations
Assess if an approach is sufficiently comprehensive
Researchers
To identify the evidence available for different policies, identify research gaps and as a resource for policy monitoring and evaluation
Civil society organisations
To monitor what governments are doing around the world, benchmark progress and hold them to account

6. implemented policies across
NOURISHING framework
360
implemented policies across
126 countries
No silver bullet; policy response must be comprehensive and address:
Food environment
Food system
Behavior change
Policy coherence across government sectors crucial (in particular between health, education, trade/economic development, agriculture)
Policy response must be adapted to local context
Policies should be evidence-based, but: urgent need for more impact and process evaluations to overcome policy barriers and support the wider uptake of effective policies
Food policy framework & database:

7. Thank you!
Louise Codling Head of Policy and Public Affairs +44 (0)