(Arlington, VA, Tuesday, February 4, 2020) — February is Cancer Prevention Month and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is releasing national survey results as part of its month-long cancer awareness and prevention campaign.

AICR’s ninth Cancer Risk Factor Survey found a widespread lack of awareness for several of the most important cancer risk factors. Only about half of those surveyed knew that being overweight, obese or physically inactive, drinking alcohol, eating red meat, and not eating enough fruits and vegetables all increase cancer risk.

To help increase awareness of major risk factors, AICR has launched a new website and redesigned Cancer Health Check as part of its Cancer Prevention Month campaign urging Americans to “check in with their health.” Cancer Health Check combines AICR’s latest research and ten cancer prevention recommendations to create an online tool where people can assess their lifestyle choices and learn how to live healthier lives.

The Cancer Health Check helps people answer simple questions about their lifestyle habits and get instant feedback about how well they meet the evidence-based recommendations or how they might make changes to follow the recommendations more closely and reduce their risk of cancer.

Being overweight and obese increases the risk of 12 types of cancer and six of those have seen recent significant increases and are increasing with each successive younger age group. Aside from not smoking, maintaining a health weight is the most important way to protect against cancer.