This study received a fair amount of notoriety since it claims that, depending on the cancer, many of the illnesses could be prevented by “lifestyle” modification. I just want to point out at the start that the whole premise is based on the authors’ “estimate” of the effect. They looked at 30 common cancers and the effect on risk among adults aged 30 and over from things like cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, eating red meat, not eating fruits and vegetables, fiber or calcium, not getting exercise, exposure to the sun and getting certain infections linked to cancers. They then claim that the evidence shows that 40% of all of the 30 cancers and 44% of all deaths attributed to those cancers are due to the lifestyle factors. Smoking, obesity and alcohol abuse are the leading contributors.
The major problem is that they are relying on supposed evidence of a link, which in some cases isn’t that strong. Smoking causing lung cancer is pretty clear, but there are few associations with that level of clarity. And a huge percentage of the total impact is accounted for by just a few examples, like smoking being causative of lung and other cancers. I don’t for one second believe that if everyone suddenly started living exactly as these researchers think they should cancer would drop by as much as they suggest. So the research isn’t particularly credible in its totality. But I don’t at all disagree that where is there is a clear link between behavior and a health issue, people should be responsible and minimize their risk; partly because we all pay for the costs of excess health care use and lack of productivity resulting from disease. (ACS Study)
