Editorial: Report is food for thought

I'm pretty average when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.

My diet could be better and while I love running, I don't get to do it enough.

I blame work and stress, but they're pretty poor excuses.

It is very clear that diet and exercise are vital for our health - and this has been driven home to me by today's page A3 story.

Ellen Irvine reports that the Bay of Plenty's horror cancer rate - the country's highest - could be slashed by almost a quarter by 2025 by diet and exercise alone.

An Australian report says more than 10,000 bowel cancer cases, more than 7000 breast cancer cases and almost 5000 prostate cancer cases could be avoided in 2025 through good diet and exercise.

I was surprised to read only 5 to 10 per cent of cases are linked to genetic or inherited disorders.

Experts believe the results would be similar here.

All this has given me some motivation to go running this weekend.

Hopefully it motivates others to make changes to their lifestyle.