People who maintain a healthy lifestyle may be less likely to develop colorectal cancer, according to findings published in the British Medical Journal. In fact, researchers have found that monitoring use of alcohol and cigarettes, exercise, waist circumference and diet can reduce one’s risk by 23 percent.

During a recent study, researchers collected health information from more than 55,400 people aged 50 to 64 over the course of 10 years. None of the participants had ever been diagnosed with any form of cancer.

After a series of follow-ups, a total of 678 people had developed colorectal cancer. The researchers found that if these individuals had monitored the five areas of their health that 13 percent of these cases could have been prevented.

The researchers concluded that these findings reveal “the useful public health message that even modest differences in lifestyle might have a substantial impact on colorectal cancer risk and emphasises the importance of continuing vigorous efforts to convince people to follow the lifestyle recommendations.”

Last year, approximately 106,100 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with colon cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.