Happy New Year! What better way to kick off 2021 than taking time to focus on your health. This month we celebrate National Healthy Weight Week, taking place during the third week of January, as well as National Cervical Health Awareness Month. Learn how you can join these awareness initiatives and set healthy habits to carry throughout the year.
National Healthy Weight Week
Did you know that staying active may help to reduce the risk of developing cancer [i]? Taking part in regular exercise as well as including more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet are great ways to maintain a healthy weight. There’s increasing evidence that maintaining a healthy weight and the changes that occur in the body from weight loss may reduce the risk of some types of cancers [ii]. Learn more about how to incorporate habits into your day that can help you maintain a healthy weight:
- Try something new! What better way to add excitement to your day than with novelty? Next time you’re shopping for groceries, try adding a new fruit, vegetable or spice to cook with. Who knows, you may even find your new favorite fruit or vegetable!
- Focus on adding not subtracting. When building your plate or ordering food, focus on what can be added to increase the content of fruits, vegetables or whole grains. For example, next time you make a dish such as pasta, add a handful of spinach or sautéed peppers.
- Make movement something to look forward to! Getting active not only has many health benefits, but it can also be fun! Try making a playlist of music to listen to while working out, taking a virtual fitness class with a friend or going for a walk somewhere with scenery you enjoy.
National Cervical Health Awareness Month
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects many women each year in the United States, but also a cancer that may be prevented through cervical health initiatives such as screenings, vaccinations and education [iii]. Cervical Health Awareness Month aims to raise awareness of cervical cancer risk factors, early detection, prevention and treatments [iv]. Here are a few ways to get involved and help lower the risk of cervical cancer:
- Get Screened! Take a look at the American Cancer Society’s Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines to learn what the appropriate screening measures are for you or your loved ones [v].
- Get informed. Use this quiz from the American Cancer Society to test your knowledge about cervical cancer. You can also learn more about the risk factors of cervical cancer here [vi] and the causes of cervical cancer here [vii].
- Get support. Have you been diagnosed or previously diagnosed with cervical cancer or are you interested in supporting those facing cervical cancer? Use these resources to learn more about the cervical cancer diagnosis, treatment options and to read survivors’ stories [viii].
Learn more about National Healthy Weight Week and National Cervical Health Awareness Month here.
References:
[i] Celebrate Healthy Weight Week in 8 Simple Steps. Retrieved from: https://www.nfcr.org/blog/celebrate-healthy-weight-week-in-8-simple-steps/
[ii] Does Body Weight Affect Cancer Risk. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/diet-physical-activity/body-weight-and-cancer-risk/effects.html
[iii] Cervical Health Awareness Month. Retrieved from: https://www.nccc-online.org/hpvcervical-cancer/cervical-health-awareness-month/
[iv] Cervical Health Awareness Month. Retrieved from: https://www.preventcancer.org/event/cervical-health-awareness-month-2021/
[v] The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html
[vi] Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
[vii] What Causes Cervical Cancer. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/what-causes.html
[viii] Cervical Health Awareness Month: Information, Research, Patient Services, Advocacy. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/special-coverage/cervical-health-awareness-month.html
