31 Oct 2007

Speaking today on the publication of the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research’s second expert report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, Dr Jane Wilde, Chief Executive of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) said:
 
“IPH welcomes recommendations from today’s report to reduce cancer risk. However, the report highlights the need for a wider approach to public health to tackle today’s chronic diseases.  Complex problems like obesity, which can then lead to increased risk of cancer, need multiple policy responses and the solution doesn’t lie in focusing only on the life-styles of individuals.  Addressing chronic diseases such as obesity needs cooperation from all government departments to ensure all policies have a positive health impact.

A recent report by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry shows more people here may be surviving cancer, but the reality is that people living in deprived areas of Northern Ireland are at much greater risk of experiencing as well as dying from cancer than those from wealthier areas.  We need to tackle this by making equity a key goal in prevention and treatment services.

We know from the Chief Medical Officer that Northern Ireland has the second highest rate in Europe of smokers in 10 to 13 age group and data suggests that more than 300,000 children on the island of Ireland are overweight or obese with the number rising by over 10,000 per year.

There are many examples of the practical benefits of North South working for example in cancer prevention and treatment across the island of Ireland. The Cancer Consortium is a joint initiative of the Health Research Board and the Research and Development Office in Northern Ireland. With the support of the National Institutes of Health in Washington, the Ireland/Northern Ireland/National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium was signed in 1999. 

Strong links have also been forged between the Cancer Registries North and South. Their work, analysing and comparing patterns of cancer, is increasing understanding of the causes of cancer, indicating what services are needed and how they are working and their joint research agenda is helping understanding about how to aid the prevention and treatment of cancers of the colon and prostate.”

Dr Jane Wilde concluded

“Without a focus on chronic disease prevention and action to tackle health inequalities, the impact of chronic disease will dwarf health services as people live longer, and unless we do something now the human and financial costs will be massive.”

Ends

For further information contact Gráinne Walsh on +44 (0)28 9087 2800 or +44 (0)79 2016 5600 or Arlene McKay on +44 (0)28 90 648494

NOTES TO EDITOR

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland was set up to seek practical advantages from building cooperation for public health between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  We work in four areas: policy advice, information, research and capacity building and our objective is to tackle inequalities in health and improve the health of the public.

Background and Methodology

The World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research’s second expert report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective will be launched on 31st October 2007.

The 10 recommendations will be presented and discussed one by one at a scientific conference at the Royal Society in London on 1st and 2nd November.

The report has taken 5 years to prepare. It involved nine research teams from universities around the world who conducted 20 systematic literature reviews.

Taken together they abstracted data from 7,000 published studies relating to 17 cancer sites, the causes of weight gain and obesity, cancer survivors and health recommendations for other chronic diseases.

A panel of 21 internationally renowned scientists, chaired by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, then assessed the data, drew conclusions and formulated the 10 recommendations.

The conclusions of the Expert Panel are presented in a series of 10 general statements, each of which is followed by a corresponding public health goal for populations (and therefore health professionals), and a recommendation for people (as communities, families and individuals).

The subjects of the 10 recommendations are:

Body Fatness
Physical Activity
Foods and Drinks that Promote Weight Gain
Plant Foods
Animal Foods
Alcoholic Drinks
Preservation, Processing and Preparation
Dietary Supplements
Lactation and Breastfeeding
Cancer Survivors

• Between 30% and 40% of all cases of cancer are preventable by feasible and appropriate diets and by physical activity and maintenance of appropriate body weight
• On a global basis and at current rates, this means that appropriate diets may prevent 3 - 4 million cases of cancer every year
• Diets containing substantial and varied amounts of vegetables and fruits will prevent 20% or more of all cases of cancer
• Keeping alcohol intake within the recommended limits will prevent up to 20% of cases of cancers of the aerodigestive tract, the colon and rectum, and breast
• Cancer of the stomach is mostly preventable by appropriate diets; cancer of the colon and rectum is mostly preventable by appropriate diets and by maintaining or increasing physical activity and maintaining appropriate body weight
• A feasible intermediate target for the dietary prevention of cancer is the reduction of global incidence by 10% to 20% within 10 - 25 years

The need for prevention

• Prevention of cancer by dietary and associated means, and by prevention and cessation of smoking, are the most effective approaches
• Prevention benefits not only individuals, but also families, communities and national economies
• Prevention is the only sensible approach to cancer in the developing world; on a population basis, treatment and palliation of cancer are economically not feasible