Diet, lifestyle and behavioural risk: can behavioural modification change future risk of cancer?
There is ample evidence in the literature that supports the notion that diet, lifestyle and behaviour influence the risk of developing cancer. It was opined that the most dramatic reduction in cancer incidence and mortality are likely to result from population shift in unhealthy behaviour such as smoking, intake of high fat and high calorie food, physical inactivity and unprotected exposure to the sun or unprotected sex. In this paper, I will discuss different strategies that have been used in the control of cancer in the past and at present. I will also explore different concepts of health education and health promotion, as well as various applications of theories and models for ensuring behavioural modifications. In conclusion, I suggest strategies for influencing health promotion and health education for effective behavioural modification that could change the future risk of cancer particularly in the West African sub region.
Oluwatosin
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Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. aoluwatosin@yahoo.com
D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000639:trends; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012309:Risk-Taking