Fostering multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors for primary prevention of cancer
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral MedicinePrevention Research Center
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2015-02-01Keywords
Behavior and Behavior MechanismsCommunity Health
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Health Psychology
Public Health
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The odds of developing cancer are increased by specific lifestyle behaviors (tobacco use, excess energy and alcohol intakes, low fruit and vegetable intake, physical inactivity, risky sexual behaviors, and inadequate sun protection) that are established risk factors for developing cancer. These behaviors are largely absent in childhood, emerge and tend to cluster over the life span, and show an increased prevalence among those disadvantaged by low education, low income, or minority status. Even though these risk behaviors are modifiable, few are diminishing in the population over time. We review the prevalence and population distribution of these behaviors and apply an ecological model to describe effective or promising healthy lifestyle interventions targeted to the individual, the sociocultural context, or environmental and policy influences. We suggest that implementing multiple health behavior change interventions across these levels could substantially reduce the prevalence of cancer and the burden it places on the public and the health care system. We note important still-unresolved questions about which behaviors can be intervened upon simultaneously in order to maximize positive behavioral synergies, minimize negative ones, and effectively engage underserved populations. We conclude that interprofessional collaboration is needed to appropriately determine and convey the value of primary prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases.Source
Am Psychol. 2015 Feb-Mar;70(2):75-90. doi: 10.1037/a0038806. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1037/a0038806Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/44613PubMed ID
25730716Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1037/a0038806