Run, swim, and bike to stay healthy. A cohort study published Monday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine confirms the positive effects of so-called “cardio” sports training. More specifically, its benefits on the appearance of cancers during life when practiced during adolescence and early adulthood. A 42% decrease in the occurrence of 9 types of cancer correlates with this physical activity during this key period.
“This study shows that higher physical fitness in healthy young men is associated with a lower risk of developing 9 of 18 site-specific cancers studied,” the authors note.
In the list of benefits noted, a reduction of around 42% in the occurrence of lung cancer, a 40% lower chance of liver cancer and a 39% reduction for esophageal cancer.
More than a million Swedish men were followed between 1968 and 2005, for an average of 33 years. Therefore, the study focused on this group and cannot possibly be extended to women as it stands. Among the study subjects, more than 84,000 men developed at least one cancer during their follow-up, or about 7% of the group.
Certain cancers favored?
Surprising element extracted from this study, a better shape of the cardiorespiratory system seems to be associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer (+7%) and skin cancer (+31%).
Different factors could explain this phenomenon. First, better detection, as some cancers may simply go undetected due to lack of screening.
For skin cancers, exposure to the sun linked to outdoor sports practice could explain this correlation. According to the Swedish doctor Aron Onerup, interviewed by The Guardianprevious studies had already highlighted the link between regular exercise and the occurrence of non-fatal prostate cancer.
However, one drawback may cloud certain study results. As indicated by the doctor Claire Knight of Cancer Research UK, the study “does not fully account for the effect of food, alcohol and tobacco, which are more susceptible to affect your developer risk a cancer”.
“You don’t have to run a marathon”
In short, the authors of this study point out that their results “strengthen the incentive to promote interventions aimed at increasing cardiorespiratory fitness in young people.” But, what is the appropriate dose of sport to practice?
“You don’t have to run a marathon or join a gym; anything that warms you up, makes you feel a little out of breath, and makes your heart beat faster counts,” Claire Knight tells the guardian.
The expert estimates that 150 minutes of exercise a week are necessary. But it can be brisk walking, biking, or just cleaning.
The French Ministry of Health has issued recommendations whose objectives vary according to age. “For adults, it is recommended to practice 30 minutes of physical activity developing cardiorespiratory capacity of moderate to vigorous intensity, at least 5 days a week.” It is also advisable to avoid “staying 2 consecutive days without practicing [d’activité sportive]”.
For teens and children ages 6 to 17, authorities recommend 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity a day.
Source: BFM TV
