Diet, Exercise, and Social Disparities: Life-Course Perspectives on Colorectal Cancer Screening and Prevention

The field of life-course epidemiology is pivotal in examining how biological, behavioral, and social factors interacting over an individual's lifespan impact health outcomes like colorectal cancer. As part of essential public health priorities, colorectal cancer prevention and early detection through screening methods like the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) play a critical role. However, there remains an inadequate understanding of how lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity—often influenced by socio-economic conditions—affect both screening outcomes and cancer prevention strategies. Filling this knowledge gap is vital for improving health equity and outcomes across different social strata.

This Research Topic aims to delve into the influence of life-course lifestyle factors on colorectal cancer risk assessment and screening efficacy, emphasizing social inequalities. The primary goal is to explore whether these factors can enhance preventive measures and screening protocols suited to varying socio-economic contexts. Key research questions involve understanding how diet and exercise can modify colorectal cancer risk prediction across diverse social groups and evaluating personalized preventive strategies to reduce social disparities in screening results. We hypothesize that integrating life-course exposure insights can refine public health policies targeting colorectal cancer prevention.

To gather further insights into understanding and combating social inequalities in health, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• The impact of socio-economic determinants on lifestyle factors linked to screening efficacy
- Examining socio-economic barriers affecting access to healthy lifestyle choices
- Analyzing the direct impact of socio-economic factors on FIT screening adoption and accuracy

• Life-course dietary patterns and exercise behaviors in predicting colorectal cancer risk
- Longitudinal studies assessing the cumulative impact of dietary habits and physical activity
- Evaluating the causative links between early lifestyle behaviors and later-life cancer outcomes

• Prevention strategies tailored to variable socio-economic environments
- Adaptation of screening guidelines to reflect socio-economic disparities in health access
- Designing culturally sensitive interventions for at-risk populations

• Research on integrating socio-economic data in designing equitable screening protocols
- Incorporating socio-demographic variables in predictive models of screening success
- Development of personalized screening schedules based on socio-economic status

• Strategies for promoting behavioral interventions that consider social determinants
- Interventions guided by community-based insights and participatory research findings
- Policy recommendations for reducing lifestyle-related risk factors through public health initiatives

We encourage submissions of Original Research, Review, Clinical Trial, and Perspective articles that contribute to this dialogue on preventing colorectal cancer across the life course. This Research Topic seeks to support the development of evidence-based interventions and policies that account for the interplay between lifestyle, socio-economic factors, and cancer prevention, ultimately advancing the goals of life-course epidemiology and social inequalities in health.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Colorectal Cancer, Life-Course Epidemiology, Screening Protocol, Social Inequalities, Lifestyle Factors

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.