Nutrition and cancer prevention activities in state health agencies

This article reports the results of the first national survey of state health agencies to obtain opinions from key personnel about nutrition and cancer prevention activities. The issues discussed are relevant to all efforts to achieve the nation's nutrition-related chronic disease objectives for the year 2000. A total of 168 key officials responded, representing 67% of the State Health Officers, 83% of the Health Promotion/Health Education Directors, 85% of the Chronic Disease/Adult Health Directors and 98% of the Nutrition Directors. The majority of respondents felt that the science base linking diet and cancer was sufficient to warrant public health action, especially public education and interagency collaboration. Fewer agencies viewed environmental change, such as collaborative efforts with supermarkets, or efforts to mobilize whole communities as priorities. Agencies identified lack of funding and appropriate personnel as impediments to expanded programming. Support requested from the federal level included research grant monies, more applied research on dietary behavior change and the development of tested nutrition intervention packages. If the variety of national objectives for nutrition and chronic disease are to be met, federal and state agencies must jointly address the issues, improve the research base and develop collaborative health education interventions involving voluntary agencies, health care professionals, the food industry, mass media and consumers.