Nutrition FACT SHEET

In 2024, cancer is expected to claim an estimated 611,720 lives in the United States. About 42% of those deaths could be prevented through maintaining a healthy weight, healthy nutrition and physical activity levels, not smoking, and minimizing or avoiding alcohol. Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a well-balanced diet full of fiber and nutrients that lower the risk of disease is important for overall well-being and is critical to reducing risk of cancer. Eating more of certain types of foods, such as fruits and vegetables, is associated with a lower cancer risk. Since studies have shown that obesity increases cancer risk, maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce cancer risk. American Cancer Society research found that, in the United States, 11% of cancers in women, 5% of cancers in men, and 7% of all cancer deaths are attributable to excess body weight.