Exercise can prevent up to 10,000 cancer cases annually

Adhere to practice physical activities among the population can prevent up to 10,000 cases of cancer annually in Brazil. This is what a study in Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, USP (FMUSP), in partnership with Harvard University, the University of Cambridge and the University of Queensland.

The research also indicates that to reach this maximum protection, 5 hours of daily physical activity would be necessary. The average takes into account the level of movement humans had when they lived in hunting societies.

Despite this, given the conditions prevailing at present, researchers find it virtually impossible to achieve this level of activity today, given the routine of a large part of the population.

Current figures show that nearly half of people have not even reached the World Health Organization’s minimum recommendation for exercise per week. That means, 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes at a more intense pace, according to a survey published by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics.

sex cut

Women are at a disadvantage compared to men. The number of women who do not exercise is greater, around 51%, while men are 43%.

According to the study, doing physical exercise for at least half an hour a day for five days a week can prevent at least 2,250 cases of breast and colon cancer in the country.

Calculations were made from data on physical activity in Brazil, data on cancer risks associated with a lack of physical activity from a comprehensive literature review, as well as data on cancer incidence published by the Incas and the International Agency for Refugees. Health .. Cancer Research.

Weight control

The effect of physical activity in reducing the incidence of cancer is due to the control of lipid levels, in addition to the direct effect on hormones and markers of inflammation. Lack of exercise increases the risk of some types of diseases, especially those that have been the subject of study, breast and colon cancer.

It is worth noting that obesity has already been associated with 13 types of cancer (postmenopausal breast, colon, uterus, gallbladder, kidney, liver, multiple myeloma, esophagus, ovary, pancreas, prostate, stomach and thyroid).