The Cancer Risk of Sedentary Lifestyle

Will 45 Minutes of Daily Gym Work out Keep us Healthy and Cancer Free for Life?

The health benefits of being active require more than a daily trips to the gym.

According to new evidence from the research conducted by Dr. Neville Owen, it is suggested that even for those with exercise routines, our modern sedentary lifestyles,  pose an increased risk of cancer.

Cancer Might be Avoided if People Spend less Time Being Sedentary

Dr. Owen, focuses on the effects of sedentary behaviour, or sitting to death, at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia. He gathered and analysed existing studies and suggested that approximately 49,000 cases of breast cancer together with almost 43,000 cases of colon cancer might be avoided if people simply spend less time being sedentary. Researchers claim it’s not just about working out at the gym, but spending less time sitting.

In fact, even those who exercise daily, are leading the way of what scientist define as inactive sedentary lifestyle. The days are spent sitting at a computer, sitting while commuting to work, eating meals, and watching tv. Sitting to death!

Physiological Changes Occur When the Body is Inactive for Many Hours

The correlation between cancer and sitting lies in physiological changes that occur when the human body is inactive for many hours. The average is 15.5 hours of each day spent just sitting.

While sitting, the big muscles found particularly in the lower part of body, are completely unloaded and that inactivity prompts biological signals in metabolism; biomarkers, which are linked to cancer.

Fitness instructor and ACE certified personal trainer Andre Noel Potvin suggests taking a break from uninterrupted sitting. Every 30 minutes stand up and alternate either 2 minutes of brisk walking, climbing stairs or practice 3-5 squats with 15 sec holds. This can help stimulate the body by fighting the forces of gravity.

Weekly Muscle-Strengthening Exercise

Regular physical activity is known to lower levels of insulin, improving the body’s immune response and preventing tumour development. It is advised that weekly adults should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, along with weekly muscle-strengthening exercise. “It’s all about how often you stand up, how often you challenge your body to respond,” Potvin said.