World Cancer Day 2011

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention.

On World Cancer Day 2011, new evidence confirms that the increasing global trend of unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles is responsible for putting millions at an unnecessarily high risk of cancer.  New estimates released today by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) global network suggest that across a range of countries, making lifestyle changes including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and taking regular physical activity can reduce the risk of common cancers by up to a third.

These findings are further supported by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) new Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health. This landmark report reinforces that regular physical activity has the potential to prevent many diseases such as breast and colon cancers, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The report addresses three age groups (5-17 years old, 18-64 years old, and 65 years old and above) and provides concrete recommendations for levels of physical activity needed for health; these recommendations are especially helpful for low- and middle-income countries, where few national guidelines for physical activity exist.