Sitting linked to cancer risk in women: study

Atlanta – Lengthy sitting can lead to a higher cancer risk in women, according to research from the American Cancer Society.

Researchers examined cancer risk and leisure time spent sitting among nearly 70,000 men and 78,000 women who didn’t have cancer at the start of the study. Between 1992 and 2009, 18,555 men and 12,236 women were diagnosed with cancer.

Longer time spent leisurely sitting was associated with a 10 percent higher risk of cancer in women after body mass index, physical activity and other factors were taken into account.

Sitting time was linked to risk of multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells), invasive breast cancer and ovarian cancer. No association was found between sitting time and specific cancers in men.

The society recommends limiting sitting time and other sedentary behavior, such as watching TV and lying down. Adults should participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week, ACS states. Children and teens should get at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity daily and participate in vigorous activity at last three days a week.

The study was published online June 30 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.