The dangers of being lazy in your early 20s: Men who were fit as younger adults are up to 40% less likely to get cancer, study shows
- Researchers from Sweden analyzed data from more than a million men
- High fitness levels as young people saw lung cancer risk reduced by 42%
Men who were fit when they were younger are up to 40 percent less likely to develop nine types of cancer, research suggests.
A large study spanning more than 30 years found that those with good cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age were less likely to develop colon, kidney, liver, pancreatic and lung cancer as they aged.
Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to a person’s ability to engage in aerobic exercise such as running, cycling, and swimming, or even climbing stairs, for extended periods of time.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden analyzed data from more than one million men between the ages of 16 and 25 who underwent a series of tests when they enlisted in the military.
This included a cycling test, the results of which researchers used to classify participants into “high,” “moderate,” or “low” cardiorespiratory fitness categories.
A large study spanning more than 30 years found that those with good cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age were less likely to develop colon, kidney, liver, pancreatic and lung cancer as they aged. Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to a person’s ability to do aerobic exercise, such as running, cycling, and swimming for extended periods of time, or even to climb stairs
All were followed until they were in their 50s, during which time 7 percent developed cancer.
Compared to men who had a low level of fitness during their younger years, higher cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with a lower risk of developing specific types of cancer.
The largest reduction was seen in lung cancer – with high fitness leading to a 42 percent lower risk – followed closely by liver cancer and cancer of the esophagus.
It was also associated with a 21 percent lower risk of stomach cancer, 20 percent lower risk of kidney cancer, 19 percent lower risk of head and neck cancer, 18 percent lower risk of colon cancer, 12 percent lower risk of pancreatic cancer, and a 5 percent lower risk of on rectal cancer.
However, higher fitness levels were also associated with a 7 percent higher risk of prostate cancer and a 31 percent higher risk of skin cancer.
This may be explained by prostate cancer screening rates and exposure to sunlight, the researchers said.
“This study shows that higher fitness in healthy young men is associated with a lower risk of developing nine of the 18 site-specific cancers studied,” they added.
“These results can be used in public health policy making, further strengthening the incentive for promoting interventions aimed at improving cardiorespiratory fitness in young people.”
The team cautioned that they had no data on diet, alcohol consumption, smoking or changes in fitness over the course of the study.
The findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.