Major new review of global evidence on diet,nutrition and physical activity: A blueprint to reduce cancer risk

The number of cancer cases is increasing. Despite advances in treatment, cancer causes one in six deaths worldwide and has overtaken cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in many parts of the world. Yet around 40% of cancer cases are preventable through lifestyle changes. The newly published Third Expert Report, Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: A Global Perspective, from World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), provides a comprehensive analysis of the worldwide body of evidence on preventing and surviving cancer through diet, nutrition and physical activity. Using the most meticulous methods, evidence from studies on 17 cancers and 51 million people – including 3.5 million cancer cases – has been reviewed. The findings have been used to produce the latest global Cancer Prevention Recommendations – which together form a blueprint to prevent cancer that people can trust – and to identify priority areas for future research. The Report, summarised in this article, ensures that people are equipped with the knowledge needed to prioritise cancer prevention – be they researchers, medical or health professionals, policymakers, civil society organisations (including cancer organisations), the media or people looking to reduce their own risk of cancer or live well after a diagnosis. A whole‐of‐government, whole‐of‐society approach is necessary to create environments for people and communities that are conducive to following the WCRF/AICR Recommendations in order to reduce the number of deaths from preventable cancer.