Healthy habit cuts risk of cancer by 14%: Study

Wednesday, Mar 07, 2012
The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network

The adoption of only one of five healthy lifestyle habits, such as not smoking and drinking moderately, can lower the cancer risk in males by 14 per cent, according to the results of a long-term survey by the National Cancer Center.

The center surveyed about 80,000 men and women aged between 45 and 74 over a 10-year period from nine prefectures including Iwate, Osaka and Okinawa.

The center set numerical criteria for five cancer risk factors--smoking, drinking, salt intake, exercise and body mass index. Cancer risks increased if the subjects exceeded those criteria.

According to results of the survey conducted between 1995 and 2006, the more healthy habits subjects had, the lower their cancer risk.

On average, the adoption of one healthy habit would reduce cancer risks by 14 per cent for males and by 9 per cent for females, the center said.