Cross-posted from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network blog:
When you think about organizations engaged in the War on Cancer, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) may not be the first that comes to mind. Yet, we are on the front lines of the battle to reduce obesity, a known risk factor for many types of cancer, each and every day.
The impact of obesity on future health outlooks is shocking. The American Society of Clinical Oncology estimates that one in three cancer deaths in 2012 were related to obesity, poor nutrition or physical inactivity. In the next ten years, obesity is predicted to overtake tobacco as the number one preventable cause of cancer. That estimate is supported by the National Institutes of Health’s prediction that by 2030, we could see an additional 400,000 cases of cancer in the United States as a result of continuing obesity trends.
In the battle for our children’s future, it is obvious that one of the most powerful things we can do to protect them is to teach them proper nutrition and healthy habits at an early age.
To read more, please visit the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network's "On the Front Lines for Our Children" blog.
