Healthy Eating and Active Living

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Cancer Prevention

The science is clear — overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition are the number one cancer risk for people who don't use tobacco. Together, they cause 20 percent of cancer cases. 

ACS CAN is working at the local, state and federal levels to prevent these cancers by advocating for legislation and regulations that make information more accessible for healthy choices, ensure healthy schools for our youth and build healthy communities for all. 

Overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition are responsible for 20 percent of all cancer cases each year.

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National

Let's save more lives by reducing obesity, improving nutrition and increasing physical activity

Being overweight or obese is the number one cancer risk for people who don't use tobacco. 

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Latest Updates

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White House Shines National Spotlight on Cancer to Reignite Moonshot

February 2, 2022

The President announced this morning he is ‘reigniting’ his commitment to ‘end cancer as we know it,’ building on the initial and robust cancer moonshot investment in discovery, prioritizing increased uptake of prevention and addressing health disparities.

ACS CAN Supports Healthy Beverages with Kids' Meals (Memo)

October 9, 2020
New Jersey

ACS CAN released this memo to the New Jersey state legislature asking for support of legislation that would require non-sugary drinks to be served with meals targetting young people in restaurants.

Briefing Highlights Critical Need for Investment and Coordination in Nutrition Research

July 15, 2020
National

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), support efforts to make nutrition research a federal priority.

We Did It! Two Legislative Priority Bills pass!

April 9, 2019
Maryland

An ambience of sadness and loss permeated this year’s Sine Die —the last day of the 90-day, Maryland General Assembly Session—as we processed the loss of Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch, a true health care champion. It is fitting that we made so much progress this year. This year marked

Healthy Eating and Active Living Resources

Healthy Eating, Active Living, & Cancer: Making Healthy Lifestyles a National Priority

August 21, 2023

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is focused on public policies that help to create healthy social and physical environments and to provide consumers with clear, useful information that fosters healthy lifestyle choices.

Increasing Access to Free School Meals to Address Food Insecurity and Improve Diet Quality

August 7, 2023

What children eat today affects their future cancer risks. Poor diet, including the consumption of high-calorie foods and beverages, is a major contributor to excess weight. And there is increasing evidence that excess body fat over the course of a lifetime, beginning in childhood, has adverse health consequences,[i] including cancer. 

Children with access to nutritious food are more likely to develop healthy eating habits they can continue to use into adulthood. Offering nutritious free school meals and snacks, before, during, and after school to all students is an effective policy intervention to address food insecurity and improve diet quality.

ACS & ACS CAN Comments USDA Proposed Rule Revising Child Nutrition Program Requirements to be Consistent with Current Nutrition Science & federal Dietary Guidance

April 17, 2023

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) appreciate the opportunity to comment on the USDA proposed rule to revise the child nutrition program requirements for meal patterns to be consistent with current nutrition science and federal dietary guidance.