How Health & Weight Loss Programs Reduce Cancer Risk

How Health & Weight Loss Programs Reduce Cancer Risk

April is Cancer Awareness Month. You may recognize the familiar daffodil symbol that represents this month. What you may not know is that living a healthy lifestyle can reduce your cancer risk. That’s right. Health and weight loss programs are important parts of reducing your chance of getting cancer.

How? Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for several types of cancer. That’s not to say that being overweight causes cancer, but a correlation has been found between being a healthy body weight and a lower risk of cancer and other diseases.

An unhealthy body weight, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are all cancer risk factors. This is why weight loss programs are important. By living a healthier lifestyle and eating well, you can reduce your risk.

Weight Loss Programs & a Healthy Body Weight

There are a number of things you can do in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight. The basics are eating well, exercising and limiting your periods of physical inactivity. In order to accomplish this, most people find it easiest to come up with a plan. Rather than eating whatever you feel like eating whenever you feel like eating it, plan your meals in advance. This will prevent you from heading to a fast food restaurant when you are hungry, since your meal plan will ensure that you always have nutritious foods to eat.

The same goes for exercise. Plan to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day and keep track of how much you are getting. Simple changes like taking a walk or a bike ride instead of driving can help. Exercise is an important part of all weight loss programs.

It’s also a good idea to exercise with another person, whether it be a friend or a personal trainer. This will help keep you motivated and on track.

In addition to an increased cancer risk, being overweight also increases your risk of other health conditions and diseases. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease and numerous other issues. This shows why it is important to take part in weight loss programs if you are overweight. Being a healthy body weight is important for your health and well-being.