Starting to engage in fitness and physical activity early in life reduces the risk of nine different types of cancer later in life by 42%, according to a large long-term study.
The new study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from more than 1 million Swedish men between the ages of 16 and 25 who were followed for an average of 33 years from 1968 to 2005.
The results suggested that good cardiorespiratory fitness – an individual's ability to engage in sustained aerobic exercise such as running, cycling and swimming – was associated with a 42% reduced risk of lung cancer, a 40% reduced risk of liver cancer and a 39% reduced risk of esophageal cancer.
The data showed that the risk of head and neck, stomach, pancreatic and kidney cancers also decreased.
However, this study "does not fully take into account the effect of diet, alcohol and smoking, which are more likely to affect the risk of developing cancer," said Dr. Claire Knight, health information manager at Cancer Research UK.
Reducing the risk of cancer is not the only reason to exercise, as physical activity has a positive effect on the emotional state and prevents cardiovascular diseases.
Knight said that "it doesn't matter if you take a brisk walk, ride a bike, or even do chores around the house, these can all count as ways to be active."
- Forget 10,000 steps a day! Here's how much you should walk to live long, according to the study
- 5 simple steps to be healthier
- The 101-year-old woman who still works and drives: 6 lessons about longevity
- Incredible breakthrough: Scientists create revolutionary 'cancer-killing' pill
- One step ahead! The benefits of using artificial intelligence in breast cancer detection
