The most sedentary people have an 82% higher risk of dying from cancer, compared to those who are more active.
Better to walk than to stay on your sofa. The health benefits of sport are numerous. According to scientists from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas (USA), it may even have a protective effect. In their researchthey find that practicing physical activity reduces the risk of death from cancer.
A study over several years
“This is the first study to show a strong link between not moving and death from cancer.”, notes Susan Gilchrist, lead author of the research. With his team, they relied on data from more than 8,000 Americans, over the age of 45, collected between 2003 and 2007. None of them had cancer at the start of the study. All wore a hip accelerometer for seven days. The device makes it possible to measure the level of physical activity of the person wearing it.
Better to move a little, than to be totally sedentary
Of all the participants, 268 people died of cancer. Analysis of physical activity data shows that the more active people are, the lower their risk of dying from cancer. “Our findings indicate that the amount of time spent sitting prior to cancer diagnosis influences the risk of death.” They estimate that replacing 30 minutes of sedentary time, such as sitting, with physical activity reduces the risk of death from cancer by 31% when it comes to moderate to intense activity such as cycling, and 8% for light activity such as walking. “JI tell my patients to get up 5 minutes every hour at work or take the stairs instead of the elevatorexplains Susan Gilchrist. It may not seem like enough, but this study shows us that even light physical activity has positive effects.” She recommends incorporating 30 minutes of physical activity a day into your daily life to reduce the risk of death from cancer.
Differentiate between physical activity and sedentary lifestyle
Other studies have looked at the links between cancer and physical activity. In 2014, research published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute has shown that a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of suffering from cancer. Researchers estimate that a “sedentary behavior” is associated with a 24% higher risk of cancer of the colon, 32% of the endometrium and 21% of the lung. “It is not enough to just be active, it is also important to sit less”, said one of the study’s authors, Graham Colditz. If you exercise regularly but sit all day, you should try to walk a little more: during your lunch break, when you come home or when you get up regularly when you are at work.
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