Sitting for Longer Hours Linked to Colon and Uterine Cancer: Study

People who sit for longer durations are at risk of developing many forms of cancer, warns a study.

It is know that physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle contribute to a bulging waistline, high blood pressure, heart diseases, high levels of blood sugar and insulin and premature death. Experts from the University of Regensburg in Germany examined records from past 43 clinical trials to assess the link between remaining physically inactive and 7,000 cases of cancer.

Their analysis revealed sitting was not associated to cancers in the breasts, ovaries, testicles, prostate stomach, esophagus and kidneys. But, the habit increased the risk for colon, endometrial and lung cancers. People who sat for longer duration during the day had 24 percent increased susceptibility for colon cancer. The risk rate surged to 56 percent among those who reported sitting down to watch too much television as they mostly ended up consuming junk food and sugary drinks.

In women sitting was related to 32 percent higher chances of uterine cancer and those who remained glued in front of the TV were 66 percent likely to develop the disease.

In addition, the study found that every two hours of sitting elevated risk for colon and endometrial cancer by eight and 10 percent, respectively.

"Cutting down on TV viewing and sedentary time is just as important as becoming more active," said Daniela Schmid, study author and an epidemiologist at the University of Regensburg in Germany, reports the Health Day News.

The authors urge people whose jobs demand them to sit for longer hours to try getting some exercise to control blood sugar and insulin levels and prevent obesity. However, regular workouts and exercise cannot negate the impacts of sitting.

"High blood sugar and high insulin is a clear sort of pathway to colon cancer, and we know from intervention studies that walking lowers insulin and getting up after meals lowers blood sugar compared to sitting," said Graham Colditz, associate director for prevention and control at Washington University's Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis who was not involved in the research, reports the Health Day News.

"Obesity is a phenomenally strong cause. In fact, it is the main modifiable risk factor for endometrial cancer. The likely scenario there is that the sitting, the weight gain and obesity really go together and exacerbate the risk of endometrial cancer."

More information is available online in the journal National Cancer Institute.