Evidence continues to mount that building cardiovascular fitness can help lower an individual’s risk for colorectal cancer (CRC).
The latest study — a sweeping analysis of 643,583 individuals, with more than 8000 cases of CRC and 10 years follow-up — found a consistent, inverse, and graded association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the risk for the development of CRC — a benefit similar for men and women and across races.
CRC risk was 9% lower for each 1-metabolic equivalent (MET) task increase in CRF, objectively measured by an exercise treadmill test.
When assessed across CRF categories, there was a progressive decline in CRC risk with higher CRF, Aamir Ali, MD, and colleagues with Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, found.
Compared with the least fit indivi