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Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Risk of Colon and Rectal Cancers

• The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study prospectively investigated physical activity at varying intensities and sedentary behavior in relation to colorectal cancer in nearly 500,000 participants ages 50-71 at baseline in 1995-1996.
• During follow-up through 2003, the study identified over 3,200 and 1,400 colorectal cancers among men and women, respectively.
• Findings indicate that engaging in physical activity of any intensity is associated with reductions in colon and rectal cancer risk. Conversely, time spent sedentary is associated with increased colon cancer risk.