AICR
Free 12-Week New American Plate Challenge Begins March 7
WASHINGTON, DC – Because obesity is now recognized as a cause of 10 common cancers, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is launching its free 12-week online program to help Americans lose weight and live healthier.
AICR’s New American Plate Challenge, which begins March 7, has already helped thousands of participants shed pounds and make the everyday changes that lead to lower weight and lower cancer risk.
Participants – the Challengers – will receive a series of 12 weekly email challenges, each focused on a specific and achievable lifestyle goal, along with evidence-based advice and support.
The NAP Challenge addresses the most common roadblocks keeping Americans from healthier habits and weight loss, as found in a new AICR survey released in February. Americans cited cost and difficulty as the top barriers holding them back from eating healthier. Not having enough time was the most common reason Americans reported for not being more physically active.
The New American Plate Challenge helps participants overcome these barriers by showing individuals how to incorporate more low-calorie, low-cost plant foods into their meals – and more activity into their days.
“There’s no counting calories or complex calculations,” said AICR Head of Nutrition Programs Alice Bender, MS, RDN. “The New American Plate Challenge focuses on building small, simple changes into your daily routine, week-by-week. And we know it works.”
The NAP Challenge turns AICR’s research-based Recommendations for Cancer Prevention into simple, practical goals engineered to lead to long-term behavior change.
Those Recommendations focus on being a healthy weight, being physically active and eating a plant-based diet. Now, studies are showing that following AICR’s recommendations does lead to lower risk for certain cancers, and promotes better physical and mental health among cancer survivors.
Now in it’s fourth year, Challengers who tracked and reported their measurements lost an average of 5 pounds and 2 inches off their waistlines over the program’s 12 weeks.
Through personal goal setting, interacting with others and tracking their progress, Challengers report their success includes not just weight loss, but higher energy levels and overall better well being.
Additional Resources:
Survey: Obstacles for Healthy Habits
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