Research has proven that more than one-third of cancers are attributable to poor diet, unhealthy body weight, and physical inactivity. These cancers can be prevented by eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy body weight. Making lifestyle changes could lower the risk of cancer of the colon and rectum, mouth and throat, stomach, breast, prostate, uterus and kidney. These modifications may also reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other chronic conditions.

Healthy Eating and Active Living

Cancer Care Ontario is one player in a powerful partnership to promote healthy eating and active living that including the provincial government, primary care, public health, NGOs and schools. Cancer Care Ontario will do its part to intensify efforts to support healthy eating and active living. Ontario’s efforts need to be at least as aggressive as those to combat smoking.

Cancer Care Ontario contributes to the Ontario government’s Healthy Eating and Active Living Strategy by developing effective healthy living interventions for reducing cancer risk. This includes the nutrition education program Colour It Up (now coordinated by the Nutrition Resource Centre), which is a community-based behavioural intervention to inform, educate and stimulate behaviour change related to vegetables and fruit, to support consumption of 5 to 10 servings every day. CCO also suggests Ontarians maintain a healthy body weight, and engage in 30-45 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days of the week.

In addition, Cancer Care Ontario will conduct active surveillance of population status with special attention to high-risk populations, such as Aboriginal communities. The Ontario Cancer Cohort study led by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research will help further illuminate the relationship between diet and exercise and cancer.

Cancer 2020 Targets

Cancer 2020 is a comprehensive action plan for cancer prevention and early detection. The goal is to reduce cancer incidence and mortality in Ontario by 2020. Cancer 2020 established these targets for diet, physical activity, and healthy body weight and alcohol consumption:

By 2020:

• 90% of Ontarians will consume 5 or more servings of vegetables and fruit daily
• 90% of Ontarians will participate in moderate to vigorous activity on most days of the week
• 10% of Ontarians will be obese, as measured by a Body Mass Index of more than 30
• 98% of Ontarians will follow the low-risk drinking guidelines set out by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Cancer 2020