Exercise may protect from cancer in middle-aged men

December 18, 2001 in Cancer Prevention, Men's Health, Nutrition for Older Adults, Sports Nutrition and Exercise

Exercise may protect from cancer in middle-aged men

According to British researchers, exercising two or more times per week may reduce the risk of developing many different types of cancer in middle-aged men. Physical activity in middle-aged men is associated with reduced risk of total cancers, prostate cancer, upper digestive and stomach cancer.

The research team followed 7,588 men aged 40 to 59 for nearly 19 years. The investigators collected information regarding exercise habits as well as cancer diagnosis and overall health. The risk of total cancers was significantly reduced only in men reporting moderately vigorous or vigorous activity; no benefit (was) seen at lesser levels. Men who reported participating in vigorous activities including running, golf, swimming, tennis, sailing, and digging more than once per month were less likely to develop cancer than men who did not take part in such activities or did so infrequently.

The men who exercised vigorously two or more times per week had a 24% reduction in risk of any type of cancer and a 62% reduction in cancer of the upper digestive tract.

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