Physical Activity and Colorectal Cancer

A study in the March 2013 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology followed 2293 patients who developed colorectal cancer. The researchers looked at their pre- and post-cancer physical activity levels. Those who did the equivalent of 2.5 hours of walking per week and significantly better survival and those who walked less than one hour per week. Those who spent more than 6 hours per day of leisure time sitting compared to those spending less than 3 hours per day sitting had a higher all-cause mortality. These figures held for both pre- and post-diagnosis activity. Long hours of sitting in general has also been associated with increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, along with various cancers. So get up and move!