Many baby boomers are unaware of the link between poor diet and cancer
A recent study commissioned by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) revealed that much of the baby boomer generation remains unaware of the link between poor diet and the risk of developing various cancers.
Less than half – only 42% — of baby boomers know that what they eat and drink can affect their chance of getting cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, one in 20 cases of cancer could be preventable if people followed healthier diets.
For example, eating red and processed meats in excess increases the risk of bowel cancer. A diet high in salt can lead to stomach cancer. And an overindulgence of alcohol is known to cause mouth, breast, bowel, liver and throat cancer.
Head of research at the WCRF, Susannah Brown, blames this gap in knowledge on how the boomer generation learns about food. “The different age groups seem to be unaware of different risk factors and it could potentially suggest that the sources they are using to get this type of information from could perhaps be influencing them,” she said.
Brown went on to note that the study showed encouraging findings. Since poor diet is a controllable risk factor, if awareness is spread than people can work to lower their risk of developing cancer and improve their overall health.