Alice RD
Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to eliminate childhood obesity in a generation could have a major impact on cancer rates when today’s children become adults.
Convincing evidence from the Expert Report shows that a strong link exists between excess body fat and cancer risk. Add physical activity and a healthy diet to weight management, and we could prevent about one-third of the most common cancers. And what better prevention strategy than helping children adopt healthier behaviors?
The campaign focuses on four factors: Healthy Choices, Healthier Schools, Physical Activity and Accessible and Affordable Healthy Food. This combination of policy changes, health professional action and family involvement envisioned by the First Lady is an important step toward helping children live healthier lifestyles. And healthier lives will lead to fewer children becoming obese and remaining obese as adults.
AICR’s major report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention addresses many of these same issues as to how policy changes can influence the behaviors that affect cancer risk and other chronic disease.
What do you see happening in your community to help children lead healthier lifestyles?
