The researchers from the universities of Kuopio and Oulu in Finland, state that lack of physical activity during a person's lifetime could be a key factor in the person developing cancer
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Analysis of men in Finland
The authors of the study analyzed 2,560 men aged between 42 and 61 from eastern Finland with no history of cancer. They assessed their leisure time physical activity over a period of 12-months.
The men filled questionnaires and undertook physical tests to measure the intensity of their exercise.
The intensity of exercise was measured in metabolic units (MET) or metabolic equivalents of oxygen consumption).
Jogging scored the highest with an average intensity of 10.1 MET, while walking had a score of 4.2 MET. Swimming measured 5.4 MET, gardening/farming 4.3 MET and cycling to work 5.1 MET.
Other exercise included skiing at 9.6 MET, rowing 5.4 MET, ball games 6.7 MET and gymnastics, dancing or weight-lifting 5 MET.
The average duration of physical activity was 462 minutes per week, or almost eight hours.
Observations by researchers
During the follow up period of around 16 years, a total of 181 men died from cancer. The most common type of cancer death noted was gastrointestinal, lung, prostate, brain and lymphoma.
The researchers noted that men who exercised for at least 30 minutes or did an average of 5.2 MET activity daily, were half as likely to get cancer as opposed to those who exercised less.
The sharpest reductions occurred in gastrointestinal and lung cancers, and held true even when factors like age, alcohol consumption, smoking and weight were taken into consideration.
The researchers concluded that vigorous exercise lowers the risk of developing cancer and dying from it, specially lung and gastrointestinal cancers.
They say: “The intensity of leisure-time physical activity had a strong and independent association with cancer mortality.
“It should be at least moderate so the beneficial effect of physical activity for reducing overall cancer mortality can be achieved.”
Positive effects of exercise
The exact reasons for the positive effect of exercise were unclear but researchers believe it could be attributed to an energy balance and how long it takes food to travel through the bowel.
Research has linked sedentary lifestyle, obesity, drinking and a reduced quality of life with a spurt in cancer cases. It is believed that thousands develop cancer because they are dangerously overweight.
A regular exercise routine has positive effects on hormone levels and the immunity system. In addition, high cholesterol disappears, heart health improves dramatically, joint flexibility is greatly enhanced, and people lose excess body fat.
Jessica Harris, health information officer of Cancer Research UK, said: “We know that being physically active can reduce the risk of getting breast and bowel cancer and this study tells us that keeping active can also lower the odds of dying from cancer.
“That is why Cancer Research UK recommends doing at least half an hour’s moderate activity on five days a week – and the more active you are, the greater the benefits.”
The research is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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