The Power of New Year’s Resolutions

(RxWiki News) Don’t give up yet. Those healthy New Year’s resolutions may help you reduce your cancer risk, according to the authors of a new study.

In this United Kingdom study of more than 343,000 participants, healthy lifestyle choices were tied to a reduction in cancer risk over a five-year study period. Not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, limiting alcohol intake and eating a healthy diet were tied to an overall cancer risk reduction of around one-third.

The study authors noted that the reduction in the risk of dying from cancer may be even more significant.

“Perhaps the advice to take up one additional healthy behavior is the most acceptable message for most subjects,” said lead study author Dr. Peter Elwood, of Cardiff University, in a press release. “In our study each additional healthy behavior was associated with a reduction of about 8 percent in cancer, independent of the effects of the other behaviors. The take-home message is that healthy behaviors can have a truly tangible benefit.”

That means keeping up with your healthy New Year’s resolution could actually benefit your health, these researchers said. For help maintaining a healthy lifestyle, speak with your health care provider.

This study was published in the journal ecancermedicalscience.

The study authors disclosed no outside funding sources or potential conflicts of interest.