Milestone report on "Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention"

The World Cancer Reasearch Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research launched on the 26 February 2009 their new report on "Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention".
This landmark policy report highlights that 45% of colon cancer cases and 38% of breast cancer cases in the US are preventable through diet, physical activity and weight maintenance.

The overall message of the report, is that all sections of society need to make public health, and cancer prevention in particular, a higher priority.

As part of the evidence-based report, thought to be the most comprehensive ever published on the subject, two independent teams of scientists systematically examined the evidence for how policy changes can influence the behaviors that affect cancer risk.

Following this, a panel of 23 world-renowned experts made a total of 48 recommendations, divided between nine different but often overlapping sectors of society – called “actor groups” in the report. These actor groups are: multinational bodies; civil society organizations; government; industry; media; schools; workplaces and institutions; health and other professionals; and people.

Among the recommendations:

* Governments should require widespread walking and cycling routes to encourage physical activity.
* Industry should give a higher priority for goods and services that encourage people to be active, particularly young people.
* The food and drinks industry should make public health an explicit priority at all stages of production.
* Schools should actively encourage physical activity and provide healthy food for children.
* Schools, workplaces and institutions should not have unhealthy foods available in vending machines.
* Health professionals should take a lead in giving the public information about public health, including cancer prevention.
* People should use independent nutrition guides and food labels to make sure the food they buy for their family is healthy.

More information is available here

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