Staying in shape matters at any age–and now new research proves it can help prevent two common types of cancer.
Appearing in JAMA Oncology, researchers say men who had “high fitness” levels during their midlife years faced a lower risk of developing lung and colorectal cancer as they got older, though it did not lower the risk of prostate cancer.
It also helped lower the risk of dying from these diseases.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that CRF [cardiorespiratory fitness] is predictive of site-specific cancer incidence, as well as risk of death from cancer or CVD [cardiovascular disease] following a cancer diagnosis,” write researchers in the online version of JAMA Oncology. “These findings provide further support for the effectiveness of CRF assessment in preventive health care settings. Future studies are required to determine the absolute level of CRF necessary to prevent site-specific cancer as well as evaluating the long-term effect of cancer diagnosis and mortality in women.”
For the study, researchers looked through data recorded by Medicare from 1999 to 2009, which contained results of fitness exams from middle-aged men enrolled in the program. Researchers also looked at how many of these men were diagnosed with cancer at the minimum age of 65, an age when this risk increases.
Identifying 13,959 men who met their criteria, they soon came across a disturbing trend: Those who were not physically fit were more likely to develop two types of cancer, called lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Men who scored well during this exam reduced their risk of these diseases by a staggering amount, however–from anywhere from 44 to 55 percent.
In addition, they found that these men were 32 percent less likely to die from cancer if they developed it by age 65.
“Notably, midlife CRF [cardiorespiratory fitness] was associated with a lower risk of both cancer and CVD [cardiovascular disease] mortality following a diagnosis of lung, colorectal, or prostate cancer in men,” write researchers. “Our data suggest that higher levels of midlife CRF [cardiorespiratory fitness] provide a mortality benefit into older age even in the setting of a cancer diagnosis.”
While the study only indicated associations between high fitness levels and a lower cancer risk, this hasn’t been the first time researchers have found an association. Previous research discovered that even moderate exercise can lower the risk of cancer for both men and women, as well as other deadly health conditions such as heart disease. Future research will need to identify why exercise specifically reduces the risk of developing lung and colorectal cancer, however.
“Adequately powered randomized clinical trials are required to definitively address these questions,” write researchers.
What This Means For You
Want to reduce your risk of colorectal and lung cancer? Then don’t sit on the couch–get up instead! Getting in at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day could help lower your cancer risk naturally and easily.
Readers: What is your favorite form of exercise?
Sources:
Fitness Level Associated With Lower Risk of Some Cancers, Death in Men – ScienceDaily.com
Midlife Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Incident Cancer, and Survival After Cancer in Men (Study) – JAMANetwork.com
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