Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective
Encyclopedia
Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, also known as the Expert Report, was an expert report
published by the World Cancer Research Fund
global network in 2007.
It reviewed all the evidence about the links between cancer and diet, physical activity and body fat and contains 10 recommendations for reducing cancer risk.
The Panel’s 10 recommendations for cancer prevention are:
Body Fatness: Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight
Physical Activity: Be physically active as part of everyday life
Foods and drinks that promote weight gain: Limit consumption of energy-dense foods; Avoid sugary drinks
Plant Foods: Eat mostly foods of plant origin
Animal Foods: Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat
Alcoholic Drinks: Limit alcoholic drinks
Preservation, processing, and preparation: Limit consumption of salt; Avoid mouldy cereals (grains) or pulses (legumes)
Dietary supplements: Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone
Breastfeeding (Special Recommendation): Mothers to breastfeed; children to be breastfed
Cancer survivors (Special Recommendation): Follow the recommendations for cancer prevention
This information was then presented to an Expert Panel of 21 world-renowned scientists, which was chaired by Professor Sir Michael Marmot
. The Panel reviewed the evidence and made 10 recommendations for cancer prevention.
magazine called the report a “landmark in our understanding of diet and cancer”, while The Economist
called it “the most rigorous study so far on the links between food, physical activity and cancer”. In the UK, it was the front page of six national newspapers, including The Times
, which described the report’s recommendations as “The new rules for defeating cancer”.
It has also been referenced in prestigious publications such as the British Medical Journal
and was also cited in a Cabinet Office
report setting out a framework for food policies in the UK.
There was also some negative reaction to the report, with The Sun
newspaper publishing a story with the headline “Save our Bacon” in response to the report’s advice to avoid eating processed meat and Michael Hanlon, writing in the Daily Mail
newspaper, advised people to “ignore these scaremongers”.
However, Project Director of the report Professor Martin Wiseman responded: “Our recommendations are based on the best science available. They are recommendations, not commandments. The whole point of them is to give people the information they need to make their everyday choices informed ones.” Cancer Research UK
has responded that “it would be grossly irresponsible of charities like Cancer Research UK and the WCRF to not talk about things that we know make people more likely to get cancer.”
The report has also had an impact on behaviour. A YouGov
survey, commissioned by WCRF UK a year after the launch, revealed that since the launch 23 per cent of people had tried to eat more fruit and vegetables as a result of the report; 18 per cent of people had tried to watch their weight and 18 per cent of people had tried to be more physically active.
In May 2009, the report was criticised by University College London
pharmacologist David Colquhoun
on his blog Improbable Science. Colquhoun questioned the Expert Panel's conclusion that there is convincing evidence that processed meat is a cause of cancer, claiming that although the studies mentioned in the report show some correlation between consumption of processed meat and increased incidence of colorectal cancer, they do not demonstrate a causal relationship
.
Expert report
An expert report is a study written by one or more experts that states findings and offers opinions.In law, expert reports are generated by expert witnesses offering their opinions on points of controversy in a legal case, and are typically sponsored by one side or the other in a litigation in...
published by the World Cancer Research Fund
World Cancer Research Fund
World Cancer Research Fund International is a not-for-profit association, established by royal decree in Belgium, with headquarters in London, UK...
global network in 2007.
It reviewed all the evidence about the links between cancer and diet, physical activity and body fat and contains 10 recommendations for reducing cancer risk.
The findings of the report
The overall findings of the report were that people can reduce their risk of cancer by eating healthily, being regularly physically active and maintaining a healthy weight. The report’s findings on the links between body fat and cancer were stronger than previously thought.The Panel’s 10 recommendations for cancer prevention are:
Body Fatness: Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight
Physical Activity: Be physically active as part of everyday life
Foods and drinks that promote weight gain: Limit consumption of energy-dense foods; Avoid sugary drinks
Plant Foods: Eat mostly foods of plant origin
Animal Foods: Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat
Alcoholic Drinks: Limit alcoholic drinks
Preservation, processing, and preparation: Limit consumption of salt; Avoid mouldy cereals (grains) or pulses (legumes)
Dietary supplements: Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone
Breastfeeding (Special Recommendation): Mothers to breastfeed; children to be breastfed
Cancer survivors (Special Recommendation): Follow the recommendations for cancer prevention
Publishing the report
The Report took six years to produce and is thought to be the most comprehensive report of its kind.In the initial sweep, 500,000 studies were found, which were screened down to 22,000. Eventually, 7,000 were deemed relevant and met the rigorous quality criteria for definitive conclusions on cancer prevention to be drawn.This information was then presented to an Expert Panel of 21 world-renowned scientists, which was chaired by Professor Sir Michael Marmot
Michael Marmot
Sir Michael Gideon Marmot is professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London.- Career :Michael Marmot was born in London, England. He moved to Australia as a young child and graduated in Medicine from the University of Sydney, Australia, in 1968. He earned a MPH in 1972...
. The Panel reviewed the evidence and made 10 recommendations for cancer prevention.
The impact of the Expert Report
New ScientistNew Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
magazine called the report a “landmark in our understanding of diet and cancer”, while The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
called it “the most rigorous study so far on the links between food, physical activity and cancer”. In the UK, it was the front page of six national newspapers, including The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, which described the report’s recommendations as “The new rules for defeating cancer”.
It has also been referenced in prestigious publications such as the British Medical Journal
British Medical Journal
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
and was also cited in a Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
report setting out a framework for food policies in the UK.
There was also some negative reaction to the report, with The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
newspaper publishing a story with the headline “Save our Bacon” in response to the report’s advice to avoid eating processed meat and Michael Hanlon, writing in the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
newspaper, advised people to “ignore these scaremongers”.
However, Project Director of the report Professor Martin Wiseman responded: “Our recommendations are based on the best science available. They are recommendations, not commandments. The whole point of them is to give people the information they need to make their everyday choices informed ones.” Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
has responded that “it would be grossly irresponsible of charities like Cancer Research UK and the WCRF to not talk about things that we know make people more likely to get cancer.”
The report has also had an impact on behaviour. A YouGov
YouGov
YouGov, formerly known as PollingPoint in the United States, is an international internet-based market research firm launched in the UK in May 2000 by Stephan Shakespeare, now Chief Executive Officer, and Nadhim Zahawi...
survey, commissioned by WCRF UK a year after the launch, revealed that since the launch 23 per cent of people had tried to eat more fruit and vegetables as a result of the report; 18 per cent of people had tried to watch their weight and 18 per cent of people had tried to be more physically active.
In May 2009, the report was criticised by University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
pharmacologist David Colquhoun
David Colquhoun
David Colquhoun, FRS is a British pharmacologist at University College London . He has contributed to the general theory of receptor and synaptic mechanisms of single ion channel function. He previously held the A.J. Clark chair of Pharmacology at UCL, and was the Hon. Director of the Wellcome...
on his blog Improbable Science. Colquhoun questioned the Expert Panel's conclusion that there is convincing evidence that processed meat is a cause of cancer, claiming that although the studies mentioned in the report show some correlation between consumption of processed meat and increased incidence of colorectal cancer, they do not demonstrate a causal relationship
Correlation does not imply causation
"Correlation does not imply causation" is a phrase used in science and statistics to emphasize that correlation between two variables does not automatically imply that one causes the other "Correlation does not imply causation" (related to "ignoring a common cause" and questionable cause) is a...
.
See also
- World Cancer Research FundWorld Cancer Research FundWorld Cancer Research Fund International is a not-for-profit association, established by royal decree in Belgium, with headquarters in London, UK...
- World Cancer Research Fund UKWorld Cancer Research Fund UKWorld Cancer Research Fund is a cancer prevention charity in the UK and is part of the World Cancer Research Fund global network.WCRF UK funds scientific research into how diet, physical activity and weight affect cancer risk and also funds education programmes to raise awareness of its message...
- American Institute for Cancer ResearchAmerican Institute for Cancer ResearchThe American Institute for Cancer Research is a large American cancer research organization associated with the World Cancer Research Fund umbrella organization.Its stated mission is:...