Exercising obviously helps us stay fit, but what about the not-so-obvious benefits of exercise? Well, cancer risk looks like the apparent outcome for those who do not indulge in exercise and remain conformed to sedentary activities, as reported by experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).
Considering that most adults seemingly spend about 70% of the day doing desk jobs in front of the computer screen or television or in a vehicle, this implication sure seems notable. And to add to it, exposure to high calorie foods has put many people in the obese category.
Dr. Charles E. Matthews, Physical Activity Epidemiologist and Investigator in the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics in Bethesda, Maryland specified, “You can exercise 30 minutes a day, but if you sit the rest of the time your overall activity level is not that high. And it’s the total time you spending sitting that may be associated with cancer.”
Dr. Matthews added that too much sitting can be linked to cancer in many ways. Firstly, when a person sits for a long time, the mitochondria in the muscle cells do not function resulting in less energy metabolism and thereby elevating chances of turning obese.
Obesity has supposedly been associated with a broad range of cancers inclusive of colon, breast, endometrial, esophageal and even more. Moreover, too much sitting has also been linked to spiked insulin levels that can affect cancer risk. Insulin tends to raise the bioavailability of sex hormones and other growth factors that instigate tumor growth.
The results showed that physical exertion could cut the risk of individual cancers like the ones stated above and probably even lung and prostate cancers. But, more analyses are required to affirm the findings. Also, physical activity seems to improve the overall quality of life and reduces risk for other disorders as well.
The team concluded that cancer patients ought to face more exposure to physical activities during the initial therapies itself. More of physical labor could also act as a suitable avenue for lowering cancer risk, they say. The study was presented at a major AICR press conference recently.