Update March 2012 – Physical activity is a guarantee of health and longevity. Three Canadian researchers published in 2006, in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association a vast synthesis of studies1 demonstrating that when they stop moving, humans suffer more disease and die prematurely.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Western Canada have collected data from studies involving more than 450,000 subjects, some of whom have been followed for more than 20 years. The data they analyzed indicate that even moderate physical activity has the effect of preserving health, lowering the risk of suffering from various diseases and improving the condition of those who already have them.
According to them, 51% of adult Canadians are physically inactive and are at risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or depression.
- Cardiovascular disorders
According to data collected from approximately 150,000 subjects, physical activity lowers the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease, in both women and men, by around 20% to 50%. In women, in particular, physical inactivity would double the death rate attributable to cardiovascular disorders.
In sedentary people, being active, even moderately, leads to a 44% decrease in the death rate. Walking for as little as an hour a week could reduce the risk of dying from heart attacks by a third.
According to the results of 48 clinical trials, patients with a history of cardiovascular disease are less likely to die prematurely if they start to move around.
- Diabetes
Based on results from studies with 120,000 subjects and data from a meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials, researchers say that regular physical activity can help prevent diabetes and improve l condition of people who already suffer from this metabolic disorder.
In patients who already have the disease, two hours of walking per week would be enough to reduce the risk of dying prematurely from the disease by about 50%. Similar effects have been reported in people with metabolic syndrome, usually associated with a prediabetic condition.
- Cancer
Physical activity, whether associated with work or leisure, has the effect of reducing the incidence of certain cancers, particularly those of the colon and breast. At least that’s what studies have reported on more than 200,000 subjects. In both women and men, moving around leads to a 30% to 40% decrease in colon cancer. Active women have 20% to 30% less risk of developing breast cancer than those who are sedentary.
Researchers point out that even in people with cancer, physical activity can be beneficial. In particular, they report that among women who had previously suffered from breast cancer, the risk of relapse or death from the disease was 26 to 40% lower among those who were active, compared to those who did not. were not.
Although it is not yet clear how physical activity could have such an impact on the survival of cancer patients, it is believed that it would increase the effect of treatments, accelerate convalescence and provide a better quality of life. to patients.
- Osteoporosis
The results of nearly thirty clinical trials indicate that physical activity, and particularly weight training, helps prevent the loss of bone density associated with aging. The authors report that in addition to promoting bone health, physical activity helps reduce the risk of falls. Active people suffer fewer fractures than those who are inactive.
Preliminary test results indicate that physical activity may also help reduce the loss of bone density in people with osteoporosis.
The authors also emphasize that, according to the results of two recent reviews of clinical trials, improving good musculoskeletal shape in the elderly contributes to their functional independence, mobility, balance of their blood sugar, integrity of their bones, their mental well-being and their quality of life. As for inactivity, it is associated with an increase in the number of falls and illnesses and premature death.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Warburton DE, Nicol CW, Bredin SS. Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence, CMAJ, 2006 Mar 14; 174 (6): 801-9.
