Study links sedentary behavior to colon cancer

New York – For men, excessive sitting may increase the risk of colon cancer, a study from Columbia University suggests.

Researchers analyzed data from two clinical trials involving people who had one or more colorectal adenomas – benign lumps associated with increased risk of colon cancer. Men who were sedentary for more than 11.38 hours a day had a 45 percent greater chance of having polyps that came back after being surgically removed than men who were sedentary for fewer than seven hours.

Other findings from the study suggest that sedentary behavior boosts the risk of cancer regardless of whether a person also engages in exercise.

The study was presented in October at the American Association for Cancer Research’s 12th Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.