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Exercise and Physical Activity Lowers Risk of Colon and Rectal Cancers

Dec 30, 2008 by TacticularCancer.com

Exercise is critical for good health.

A study published in the November issue of Cancer Causes and Control has indicated that exercise and physical activity helps to reduce one’s risk of getting colon cancer and rectal cancer. On the flip side, lack of physical activity increases the risk.

The study looked at data of 488,720 men and women who were part of the National Institutes of Health – American Association of Retired Persons (NIH-AARP) Diet and Health Study. The participants were aged 50 to 71 in 1995 to 1996. From then till the end of 2003, 3,240 men and 1,482 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Here’s the deal. The study found that men who exercised five times or more each week had 21% lower risk of getting colon cancer, as compared to those who did not or rarely exercised. The corresponding figure for women was 15%. The decrease in risk of rectal cancer for men was 24%.

For both men and women, physical inactivity was defined as spending at least 9 hours each day watching television and videos, and this was linked to a 61% higher risk of colon cancer.

Yet more reason to get moving regularly.

Source: Exercise and Physical Activity Lowers Risk of Colon and Rectal Cancers at All 4 Natural Health