Cancer risk: lifestyle focus
Munich, June 2010. The World Health Organisation (WHO) now believes that in Western countries around 30% of cancer cases are due to unfavourable nutritional and exercise habits. It is probable that excess weight increases the risk of breast cancer as well as that of colorectal and rectal cancer, for example.
A wide range of studies in recent years have shown that the impact of body weight on the risk of cancer is just as significant as daily diet. What is more, day-to-day exercise is also becoming increasingly important since it is not just the calories ingested that influence weight.
As long ago as 2005, almeda GmbH started applying a successful concept for changing lifestyle factors: insurees with risk factors (e.g. increased Body Mass Index, excess abdominal girth, limited exercise) are supported by means of a one-year telemedical coaching program. The success of lifestyle coaching is reflected in positive program outcomes as well as ongoing implementation of the concept with a range of different customers. Not just insurance companies and clinics benefit from almeda disease management programs but also company health management providers.
A study of this type of program commissioned by a private health insurance company showed a successful change in lifestyle and body weight over the course of 12 months. 51% of the 200 participants changed their diet, 53% increased physical activity and 28% achieved a reduction in severe excess body weight. Lifestyle programs from the primary and secondary preventive field are now being used in the tertiary preventive area, too. Since 2009 the telemedical coaching program has been provided as part of follow-up treatment for breast cancer sufferers by a university clinic. The aim is to guide the women concerned towards a healthy lifestyle, with a personal coach promoting conscious adoption of a nutrition and exercise plan. Initial feedback has been very positive.