Eat your fruits and veggies, Ontario urged 

ALLISON DUNFIELD 

Globe and Mail (Canada)

12/16/2003

A large number of Ontario adults are not consuming the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, a new study says, despite proved cancer benefits.

About 40 per cent failed to eat at least five to ten servings of fruit and vegetables per day - the amount recommended by the Canada's Food Guide.

The study found that 30 per cent of cancers in adults could be prevented if Ontarians increased their consumption of produce, maintained a healthy weight and exercised.

The study says that the following cancers - mouth and throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectal, pancreatic, larynx, bladder and lung - have been found by researchers to be at least somewhat fought off by consumption of fruit and vegetables.

"Some of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer are some of the simplest," said Dr. Terry Sullivan, vice-president of research and cancer control at Cancer Care Ontario, in a statement. "What this survey shows is that there's a fair bit of room for improvements that will go a long way in reducing our cancer risk," Dr. Sullivan said.

The survey found that women are doing better than men in terms of eating healthy produce.

Women ate an average of 6.3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, compared with 5.4 servings for men.

The number of adults eating five or more servings a day varied little, depending on the region of Ontario, from a high of 62 per cent in Central East Ontario (including Toronto) to a low of 55 per cent in the Northwest region (including Thunder Bay).

The researchers explain the higher consumption in the Central Eastern region by the number of immigrants who live in the area who may have eating habits that differ from the typical North American diet, as well as fewer available fruits and vegetables in the Northwest region.

The survey also found that Ontario adults are not exercising or keeping up a healthy body weight.

It found 48 per cent of Ontarians to be overweight.

It also found that 43 per cent of Ontario men and 53 per cent of Ontario women do not exercise the recommended minimum of about 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days of the week.

More than 3,000 participants ages 18 to 64 were surveyed for the Cancer Care report.

Ontario Cancer Survey

Results from a Cancer Care Ontario survey on nutrition and cancer prevention involving 3,183 men and women:

* 30 per cent of cancers in adults could be prevented if Ontarians ate more fruits and vegetables, exercised and kept their weight in check.

* About 40 per cent of Ontarians surveyed did not eat five to 10 servings of fruit or vegetables daily, as recommended by Canada's Food Guide for Healthy Eating.

* Women ate 6.3 servings of fruit or vegetables. Men ate 5.4.

* Five per cent of women and 10 per cent of men ate two servings or fewer of fruits and vegetables a day, which could double their risk of cancer.

* 48 per cent of those surveyed - almost twice as many men as women - were above a healthy body weight. Twelve per cent were obese.

* 43 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women did not meet the minimum recommended amount of physical activity, reporting less than three hours a week.

Canadian Press