April 27, 2011 – Working sitting behind your desk for 10 years would double your risk of colon cancer. This is what a study concludes1 Australian study in over 900 colorectal cancer patients and 1,000 controls.
The researchers collected information on the participants’ eating habits and their physical and professional activities. People working seated (especially behind a computer) were considered “sedentary” employees, unlike teachers, mechanics, nurses or other people whose work requires a varying degree of activity.
According to the results, people who have worked in a sedentary profession for 10 years or more are twice as likely to develop cancer of the distal colon (near the rectum) than those who have never had this type of use. Their risk of rectal cancer is also multiplied by 1.5. For both cancers, the risk remained the same regardless of the degree of physical activity performed outside of work.
These results are in line with those of previous studies, which notably showed that people who sit for more than 9 hours a day are 25% more likely to have colon cancer than those who spend less than 3 hours a day in a chair.2.
According to Australian researchers, a sedentary lifestyle increases the level of sugar in the blood, which would contribute to the formation of colorectal tumors. Other factors, such as an increased risk of obesity and a higher blood level of inflammatory molecules, would also come into play. Since sitting work still has a bright future ahead, the researchers suggest taking regular breaks to “Break up” the day and avoid sitting continuously.
Célia Chabout – PasseportSanté.net
1. Boyle T, Fritschi L and al. Long-Term Sedentary Work and the Risk of Subsite-specific Colorectal Cancer, Am J Epidemiol. 2011 Mar 18.
2. Howard RA, Freedman DM et al.Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of colon and rectal cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, Cancer Causes Control. 2008 Nov; 19 (9): 939-53. Epub 2008 Apr 25.
