Table 1. WCRF/AICR recommendations for cancer prevention and scoring criteria^a.

WCRF/AICR recommendations	Personal recommendations	Operationalisation	Score	Cases n=1,806 %	Controls n=12,005 %
1) Body fatness. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.	1a) Ensure that body weight throughout childhood and adolescent growth projects toward the lower end of the normal BMI range at age 21 y.	Insufficient information	NA
	1b) Maintain body weight within the normal range from age 21 y.	Lean at aged 20, 40 & trial entry Lean at 2 time-points Overweight at aged 20,40 & trial entry	1 0.5 0	21.7 31.1 47.2	21.4 30.4 48.2
	1c) Avoid weight gain and increases in waist circumference throughout adulthood.	WC <94cm WC ≥94 to <102cm WC ≥102cm	1 0.5 0	41.5 37.1 21.4	41.3 36.1 22.6
2) Physical activity. Be physically active as part of your everyday life.	2a) Be moderately physically active, equivalent to brisk walking, for 30 min every day.	PA ≥7 times/wk PA 3 to <7 times/wk PA <3 times/wk	1 0.5 0	28.1 33.8 38.1	27.1 32.9 40.0
	2b) As fitness improves, aim for 60 min of moderate or for 30 min of vigorous physical activity every day.	Insufficient information available	NA
	2c) Limit sedentary habits such as watching television.	No information available	NA
3) Foods and drinks that promote weight gain. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods; avoid sugary drinks.	3a) Consume energy-dense foods sparingly.	DED ≤125kcal.100g−1.d−1 DED >125 to ≤175kcal.100g−1.d−1 DED >175kcal/100.100g−1.d−1	1 0.5 0	16.2 63.1 20.7	18.0 62.0 20.0
	3b) Avoid sugary drinks.b	No sugary drinks or ≤1 fruit juice ≤250g/d sugary drinks or >1 to ≤2 fruit juice >250g/d sugary drinks or >2 fruit juice	1 0.5 0	45.1 36.7 18.2	44.5 35.8 19.7
	3c) Consume fast foods sparingly, if at all.	Insufficient information available
4) Plant foods. Eat mostly foods of plant origin.	4a) Eat 5 portions/servings (400 g) of a variety of non starchy vegetables and of fruit every day.	F&V ≥400g/d F&V ≥200 to <400g/d F&V <200g/d	1 0.5 0	53.3 37.2 9.5	56.3 34.6 9.1
	4b) Eat relatively unprocessed cereals (grains) and/or pulses (legumes) with every meal.	NSP ≥18g/d NSP≥10 to <18g/d NSP <10g/d	1 0.5 0	63.3 33.2 3.5	65.0 31.8 3.2
	4c) Limit refined starchy foods.	Insufficient information available
	4d) People who consume starchy roots or tubers as staples should also ensure sufficient intake of non starchy vegetables, fruit, and pulses (legumes).	Not applicable to our study population
5) Animal foods. Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat.	5a) People who eat red meat should consume <500 g/wk and very few, if any, processed meats.	Red and processed meat<500g/wk & processed meat <3g/d Red and processed meat<500g/wk & processed meat ≥3g/d to ≤20g/d Red and processed meat≥500g/wk or processed meat >20g/d	1 0.5 0	3.6 28.3 68.1	5.0 26.1 68.9
6) Alcoholic drinks. Limit alcoholic drinks.	6a) If alcoholic drinks are consumed, limit consumption to 2 drinks/d for men and 1 drink/d for women.	Alcohol ≤20g/d Alcohol >20g/d to ≤30g/d Alcohol >30g/d	1 0.5 0	54.7 14.3 31.0	53.9 14.9 31.2

^aWC, waist circumference; PA, physical activity; DED, dietary energy density; F&V, fruits and vegetables; NSP, non-starch polysaccharides

^bSugary drinks include non-diet soft drink, fruit squash and fruit juice. Fruit juice cut-offs apply to men who consumed fruit juice only.