Healthy Eating and Active Living

Share

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.

Take Action

Photo of an orange slice

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. 

Latest Updates

March 13, 2024
Wisconsin

Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Wisconsin Government Relations Director Sara Sahli MADISON, Wis. – “As lawmakers close the 2023/2024 legislative session, their policies on easing the burden of cancer are decidedly mixed for the nearly 40,000 Wisconsinites who

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.

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.

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.

Healthy Eating and Active Living Resources

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for policies at the federal, state, and local level aimed at addressing food and nutrition insecurity and reducing health disparities. Having consistent access to affordable nutritious food has a direct impact on a person’s health and can help prevent, manage, and treat chronic diseases like cancer.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supports policies and funding that increase access to “Food is Medicine” (or food as medicine) initiatives and interventions intended to prevent, treat, or manage chronic diseases and often address food and nutrition insecurity.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supports giving participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) financial incentives to purchase fruits and vegetables.