{"id":196738,"date":"2024-09-11T09:23:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T09:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=196738"},"modified":"2024-09-11T09:23:01","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T09:23:01","slug":"half-of-all-deaths-linked-to-lifestyle-factors-you-can-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2024\/09\/11\/half-of-all-deaths-linked-to-lifestyle-factors-you-can-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Half of All Deaths Linked to Lifestyle Factors You Can Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new study adds evidence that your lifestyle plays a major role in how likely you are to develop serious diseases such as cancer. And it\u2019s not just about smoking. Let\u2019s take a look at what other behaviours are impactful and how you can improve.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Smoking, overweight, and inactivity are responsible for 40% of all cancer deaths<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A new study<\/a> led by researchers at the American Cancer Society finds 4 in 10 cancer cases and close to 50% of all cancer deaths in adults under 30 years old could be attributed to modifiable risk factors. That means smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor diet, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and infections such as hepatitis or HIV. Cigarette smoking was by far the leading risk factor, contributing to nearly 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of all cancer deaths. It was followed by excess body weight contributing to 7,6% cases, alcohol consumption to 5,4%, UV radiation exposure to 4,6%, and physical inactivity to 3,1%.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite considerable declines in smoking prevalence during the past few decades, the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to cigarette smoking in the United States is alarming. This finding underscores the importance of implementing policies to promote smoking cessation. Interventions to help maintain healthy body weight and diet can also substantially reduce the number of cancer cases and deaths in the country,\u201d commented the study\u2019s lead author Dr Farhad Islami.<\/p>\n

What can you do about it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The better question may be what you should not do. Based on what this and other studies found, it may be just as important to avoid certain unhealthy behaviours as it is to engage in healthful ones.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with a list of things to avoid:<\/p>\n