It is no longer a secret that exercise is good for your health. After all, those who occasionally take a ride on a bicycle cultivate a better immune system, become ill less often, live longer on average and run a lower risk of cancer. This has now been confirmed by a scientific study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
For the study, just over one million Swedish soldiers, active between 1968 and 2005, were monitored for 33 years. During their military career, their physical condition was regularly measured by means of an exercise test.
The enormous amount of data and the fact that the military was followed up for a long time enabled the researchers to observe striking trends. For example, they could associate the fitness of the military with the development of site-specific cancers.
Decreased risk of cancer
What turned out? There is a strong correlation between poor fitness and cancer. “Higher fitness is associated with a lower risk of cancer in the head, neck, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, colon, rectum and kidneys.”
However, there is also less good news. The number of cases of prostate cancer and malignant skin cancer was significantly higher among those who had a better condition.
UV-straling
In the case of skin cancer, the researchers have a simple explanation. “Those in better shape are more often exposed to UV radiation (e.g. by cycling outside in the sun).”
In the case of prostate cancer, there is no demonstrable link with fitness. The researchers suspect that an increased screening of prostate cancer is the basis. “Fitter people are more likely to get tested and therefore get a diagnosis of prostate cancer more quickly. People with a poorer condition are less inclined to have themselves checked, but that does not mean that they have a lower risk of prostate cancer.”
Sports is healthy
Finally, the researchers emphasize once again that the increased risk of skin cancer does not outweigh the health benefits of endurance sports. And of course there is also sunscreen to optimally protect you against UV radiation from sunlight.
2023-08-19 08:47:05
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