Physical Exercise May Reduce Cancer Likelihood

It is a commonly known fact that physical exercise is beneficial, especially to older persons. Based on the latest research by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, those who exercise intensely and a lot are less likely to develop cancer.

The three important factors when starting on an exercise regimen are intensity, duration and frequency. Intensity is the amount of energy one spends on one physical activity. Duration refers to the time you spent doing a particular activity. Lastly, frequency is the number of times you do the exercise program.

The researchers from Finland studied around 2,500 men, aged 42 – 61 from eastern Finland with no history of cancer, and assessed their physical exercise over one year.

The researchers studied men only. The people were observed for approximately 16 years. 181 people died from cancer (most common types being gastrointestinal, lung, prostate, brain and lymphoma cancer).

According to the research evidence, 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise a day is beneficial for prevention of a cancer. Over the course of the research, the frequency, average duration of the session, and intensity were recorded. The intensity of physical exercise was measured MET (metabolic units) or metabolic equivalents of oxygen consumption.

The researchers found that average intensity of men’s physical activity was 4.5 MET and the average duration of exercise was 462 minutes per week. An increase of 1.2 metabolic units (oxygen consumption) was linked to a decrease in cancer mortality (mainly lung and gastrointestinal cancers), after the researchers took into account age, consumption of alcohol, body mass index and energy, smoking, fibre and fat intake.

Over the course of physical exercise, the level of oxygen consumption increases, which leads to a lower of chance of illness in a men and the likelihood of cancer. As proved by the researchers, people who exercise for 30 minutes a day or more were 50% less likely to get cancer as those who did not. Here is the conclusion of the research report: “The intensity of leisure-time physical activity should be at least moderate so that beneficial effect of physical activity for reducing overall cancer mortality can be achieved.”