October 22, 2010 – Spending long hours sitting is associated with a higher risk for women of endometrial cancer, recent study finds1.
Researchers reviewed 14 recent studies on physical activity and endometrial cancer. Three focused on the link between a sedentary lifestyle and endometrial cancer. The results show that women who spend many hours sitting have an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer compared to those who are less sedentary.
Being physically active would reduce the risk without, however, eliminating the harmful effects of sitting: both in women who exercise intensely 3 times or more per week and in those who are less active, sitting for long hours would increase the risk of cancer. of the endometrium.
The researchers say, however, that the number and reliability of recent studies are sufficient to strengthen the link between physical activity and prevention of endometrial cancer. But it is among active women who spend little time sitting that the risk would be lowest.
According to their results, 22% of endometrial cancers could have been prevented if the participants had performed 20 minutes or more of moderate to intense physical activity, 5 times a week. The percentage of cancers avoided climbs to 34% if, in addition, women spend less than 4 hours per day sitting.
The biological mechanisms causing endometrial cancer are increasingly well understood. In addition to hormone therapy consisting primarily of estrogen, endometrial cancer can also occur when the body produces too much estrogen, the hormone responsible for normal endometrial production at the start of the menstrual cycle. This high estrogen production can be caused by a chronic insulin metabolic imbalance, which exercise can prevent, the researchers say.
Julie Fortier and Nathalie Vigneault – PasseportSanté.net
1. Moore SC, Gierach GL et al. Physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and the prevention of endometrial cancer, Br J Cancer. 2010 Sep 28; 103 (7): 933-8.
