Does regular participation in aerobic exercise lower an individuals risk of developing cancer?
While it has not been shown that a given level of physical activity per se can reduce overall cancer risk, research suggests that exercise often modifies some of the risk factors associated with certain kinds of cancer. Obesity, for example, has been linked to cancer of the breast and the female reproductive system. In turn, regular exercise has been shown to help promote weight loss. Several studies have also found that men who worked at sedentary jobs for most of their lives had a greater incidence of colon cancer than those in more active jobs. A longitudinal study of Harvard alumni found that highly active or even moderately active individuals had a substantially lower risk of developing both colon and lung cancer than alumni who were less active or sedentary. On the other hand, exercise will not offset the effects of a high-fat diet or smoking. Still, it can contribute, even indirectly, to a reduced risk of cancer. As such, exercising regularly is recommended by the American Cance
Recent research has shown evidence that aerobic exercise lowers an individual’s likelihood of getting cancer. Overall, obesity has been linked with higher risk for heart disease, hormone changes, high blood pressure, diabetes and other bodily illnesses. Getting daily aerobic exercise will help prevent obesity, which, in turn, will lower your risk of being susceptible to diseases such as cancer.
Some studies show that active men and women are 30-40% less likely to get colon cancer compared to less active individuals. The National Cancer Institute has reported several studies that show that exercise in the months following colorectal cancer treatment will decrease the risk of cancer recurrence and increase the survival rate of colorectal cancer patients.
Evidence has also shown that women who are active are 20-30% less likely to develop breast cancer, compared to women who led sedentary lifestyles.
