1. American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention
Reducing the Risk of Cancer With Healthy Food Choices and Physical Activity
Good Morning! I will be sharing the American Cancer Society’s Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention.
These guidelines were developed by the American Cancer Society 2010 Nutrition Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee and approved by the American Cancer Society National Board of Directors in August Recently, in late 2015, they were reviewed and renewed.
The full article, written for health care professionals, is published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and can be found free online.
The full text of the consumer’s version is on the ACS website at
Reviewed February 2017

2. Of course, as you know, no diet or lifestyle change can promise full protection against any disease. For some people the reality is that even good nutrition, a healthy body weight, and regular exercise may not affect their cancer risk.
But if the nutrition and physical activity recommendations are taken as a lifelong commitment, many people can lower their risk of cancer and other diseases.

3. Cancer can be a result of many factors, including genetic or unknown factors, but about 20% of all cancer cases in the US are related to excess body weight, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. These same behaviors are also linked with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The good news is that we may be able to help people to lower their risk through healthier behaviors.

4. This is a summary of the recommendations for individuals that we will review today.

5. And a summary of community action recommendations to promote healthy eating and physical activity.

6. ACS Recommendations for Individual Choices

7. Messaging to non tobacco users is about these three things: Controlling weight, eating healthy and being active. Certainly for those who use tobacco, the most important thing we can encourage is that they quit!

8. Overweight and obesity are clearly associated with an increased risk of developing many cancers, including breast cancer in post-menopausal women, colon and rectum, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, and pancreas.
In addition, these factors are also “probably” associated with an increased risk of cancer of the gallbladder; liver, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, cervix, ovary, and aggressive prostate cancer.
The increase in overweight and obesity noted among Americans is of particular concern for a number of population groups. For children especially, who are establishing lifelong behavioral patterns that affect their health. Evidence suggests that kids that are obese are more likely than normal weight kids to become obese as adults and that their obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.
Another group of concern is people who live in lower income neighborhoods, in which often nearby stores lack affordable, high-quality healthy foods, and in which there are increased safety concerns that impact opportunities for physical activity.

9. Let’s admit it: It’s tough for people to lose weight!
So the goal is to encourage people to start eating so that they don’t gain weight. Fruits and vegetables can certainly help since they provide nutrition with fewer calories. Regular activity can give patients an alternative non food based activity. Group support may also be a great recommendation for some.

10. There is limited evidence regarding whether physical activity is most protective if done in a single session or in increments throughout the day, but it’s reasonable to assume that benefit can be accumulated in separate sessions of 20 to 30 minutes each.
What qualifies as physical activity? Anything from work around the house to brisk walking to triathlons. The choice will depend on current fitness level, existing medical conditions, and perhaps the patient’s enviornment.
We want to see them go beyond the usual daily physical activity of working and self-care: to get them to breathe faster, something that gets the heart rate up, and makes them sweat.

11. The point of this is to encourage people to become active for the rest of their lives!
Limiting “screen time” and sitting is important as well, since this can affect health and cancer risks even if one is active.
Many people use timers to encourage them to get up for a few minutes every hour, or use a standing desk during the day to limit sitting time.

12. To get to and to maintain a healthy weight, most people need to limit calorie intake while increasing regular physical activity;
it’s difficult for most people to get to and stay at weight solely through physical activity. So cutting sugar is smart, and reading labels to make sure that one is not replacing one problem ingredient with another is enlightening form many people!

13. Portion size is a critical issue for many people
Portion size is a critical issue for many people. Certainly, when one reviews the portion sizes today compared to even just a few years ago, it makes you realize why we have some of this obesity problem.

14. Emphasizing plant foods instead of meat can make a difference
Use meat as a side dish or flavor enhancer rather than as the focus of a meal.
Try other protein sources such as fish and poultry in place of red and processed meats.
Beans may also be a healthier source of protein

15. Vegetables (including beans) and fruits are complex foods, each containing numerous potentially beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber, carotenoids, and other bioactive substances that may help prevent cancer.

16. Whole-grain foods, which are those made from the entire grain seed, are lower in caloric density than their processed (refined) grain counterparts. They are also higher in fiber, certain vitamins, and minerals than refined grain products.
Whole grains include brown rice, 100% whole grain bread or pasta, regular oatmeal, quinoa, and other grains.
Recommend that your patients eat less food made with white flour, and encourage them learn to read labels. For instance, some people may not know that “wheat bread” is not the same as “100% whole wheat,” even if the bread looks brown.

17. Alcohol consumption should be limited…
Women’s recommended limit is lower both because of their smaller body sizes and because they process alcohol more slowly than men.
These limits refer to daily consumption, and do not justify drinking larger amounts on fewer days of the week.

18. We touched on this earlier, that the increase in overweight and obesity is of special concern in certain groups, including children, who are establishing lifelong behaviors that affect health.
Lower income neighborhoods often do not have supermarkets that sell affordable, high-quality, healthy foods, and safety concerns may limit the chance for physical activity.
So, this is an opportunity for us to see how community action could help to make a difference among these groups…

19. ACS Recommendations for Community Action

20. ACS ‘ s recommendation for community action includes public, private and community organization to work collaboratively….so all of us!

21. We can work on implementing policy and environmental changes that increase access to healthy food, and decrease access to junk foods, especially those marketed to children

22. And to provide safer areas that encourage physical activity and recreation.

23. We have a variety of resources that can help to meet those ends, and our next speaker will likely have more ideas!

24. Thank you!
Thank you for your attention.