- A study suggests that being physically fit between the ages of 16 and 25 can reduce the risk of developing cancer.
- The study analyzed over one million conscripts in Sweden over a span of three decades.
- According to a co-author of the study, “some physical activity is better than none.”
Having a good level of cardiovascular fitness in youth may decrease the risk of developing certain cancers later in life by up to 42%, as per a recent study.
The lead author, Dr. Aron Onerup, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Gothenburg’s Institute of Clinical Sciences in Sweden, expressed surprise at consistently finding links between cardiorespiratory fitness and a reduced risk of gastrointestinal cancers.
Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the study utilized data from a register of 1,078,000 Swedish men who underwent military conscription between 1968 and 2005. All participants were between the ages of 16 and 25 at the beginning of the study, and their health was tracked for an average of 33 years. Of the participants, 6.9% (84,117 men) developed cancer more than five years after conscription.
The men were categorized into three groups based on their cardiorespiratory fitness: low, moderate, and high. Fitness levels were measured by monitoring heart rates as the men pedaled on an exercise bike with increasing resistance. The longer a participant could cycle at higher resistance, the better their cardiorespiratory fitness.
Better cardio fitness correlated with lower risk of various cancers
The study found that individuals with higher cardiorespiratory fitness during their youth had a 20-40% lower baseline risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers.
Higher cardiorespiratory fitness was also associated with a 42% lower risk of lung cancer, a 40% lower risk of liver cancer, and a 39% lower risk of esophagus cancer.
Furthermore, it was linked to a 21% lower risk of stomach cancer, a 20% lower risk of kidney cancer, an 18% lower risk of bowel cancer, and reduced risks of rectal, pancreatic, and head and neck cancers.
Men with higher cardiorespiratory fitness were also 7% more likely to develop prostate cancer and 31% more at risk of skin cancer. The researchers attributed this to increased prostate cancer screenings during the study period and greater exposure to UV rays.
Nevertheless, Dr. Onerup stated that “more physical activity is better for optimal health outcomes,” emphasizing that “some physical activity is better than none.” Therefore, it’s never too late to benefit from improving fitness.
Recently, Insider highlighted how being physically fit is one of the eight essential habits for living a longer, healthier life, with any form of exercise providing benefits.
Dr. Claire Knight, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK and not involved in the study, pointed out that it doesn’t fully consider the impact of diet, alcohol, and smoking on cancer risk.
Since this study was observational, the researchers acknowledged limitations in drawing conclusions about the causes of cancer.
Dr. Melinda Irwin, associate dean of research at Yale Cancer Center and not part of the study, explained to Medical News Today that the link between cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced cancer risk could be attributed to improved metabolic, inflammatory, and immune function.
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