Physical Activity and Cancer Prevention

The burden of cancer is rising worldwide. In 2019, the Global Burden of Study estimated that there were 23.6 million new cancer cases, 10.0 million deaths and 250 million of disability-adjusted lifeyears (i.e. the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death) across the world.Actually, many cancer cases could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including lack of physical activity. There is strong evidence that regular physical activity are linked to lower risk of developing several types of cancer, in particular obesity-related cancers of the colon, breast and endometrium (inner lining of the uterus).4 Besides, reductions in cancer risk are observed for a broad range of physical activity domains, including recreation, transportation (such as walking and cycling), occupation (i.e. work) and household (such as carrying out household chores).

With sufficient physical activity, it is appraised that about 17%–18% of colon cancers, 12% of female breast cancers and 23% of endometrial cancers could be prevented worldwide.

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