CRI听力: Quarter of Cancer Cases in China Preventable

What are you having for lunch today? If it's fast-food you may want to change your mind. Thursday [February 4] marks World Cancer Day. The disease is one of the biggest killers in China and new data from the World Cancer Research Fund, an international network of cancer charities,shows over six hundred thousand cancer cases in China could be prevented by choosing a healthier lifestyle. One of the key messages is eating healthier. CRI's Dominic Swire brings us this report.



Lunchtime in one of Beijing's many fast food restaurants. The room is filled with people consuming hamburgers and fizzy drinks. But a new report from the World Cancer Research Fund says cutting out this kind of fatty and sugary food could help protect you from cancer. Rachel Thompson is Deputy Head of Science at the World Cancer Research Fund. She explains the importance of keeping in shape.

"We would encourage people to avoid sugary drinks because they contain lots of sugar and can lead to weight gain, and to try to limit consumption of food with lots of fat like fried food or food with lots of sugar such as biscuits and cakes."

The World Cancer Research Fund says over one quarter of all common cancer cases in China could be prevented by a healthier lifestyle. As well as watching what you eat, this includes drinking less alcohol and exercising for at least 30 minutes per day.

The World Health Organisation ranks China 62nd in the world in terms of the rate of developing cancer. But some worry the disease may grow more prevalent here as Chinese eating habits change. Rachel Thompson again.

"I think diet is changing in China and perhaps becoming more like American and European type diets. And perhaps this rate might be expected to increase in the future, if people become more overweight and drink more alcohol etc".

But eating healthier is easier said than done. Customers in this restaurant know fast-food is not good for them, but don't seem too concerned.

"It's cheap and convenient, that's all. People may think it is not nutritious, but we don't care."

"In my opinion this food is harmful to my health, but the most important thing is that it's fast and convenient."

Cancer accounted for two million deaths in China in 2008, according to the World Health Organisation. If this number is not to grow, Chinese people may have to think twice about what they eat.

For CRI, I'm Dominic Swire