According to a new study, a lifetime habit of recreational inactivity increases the risk of bladder and kidney cancer 73% and 77%, respectively. Cancer risk was present whether or not the study subjects were obese!
If you've got a running list of reasons not to become a "couch potato" (or to change your "couch potato" ways), here are two more to add.
Too much sedentary time can increase your risk of bladder and kidney cancer. Yes, the link between cancer and inactivity is getting stronger.
According to a new study, a lifetime habit of recreational inactivity increases the risk of bladder and kidney cancer 73% and 77%, respectively. Cancer risk was present whether or not the study subjects were obese!
Sustain the Change
Do you need to start training for and running marathons, now? No, however any small, incremental improvement in one's level of physical activity can help.
While workout sessions are great for getting into shape, it's important to change "lifestyle" activity levels by increasing the general level of activity overall.
Look for opportunities to get active in your existing routine. Simple, modest changes can add up, such as getting off the train one stop earlier, walking around while making phone calls, doing your own yard and garden work, taking a walk on your lunch break, and avoiding sitting times longer than 30 minutes at a time. Catching up over coffee with a friend? Why not suggest taking a walk or going out for a hike instead.
When physicians want to measure the status of a patient's health, they measure several vital signs of health, such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and so on. Physical activity is so important to health that it can be considered just as vital and necessary to be measured. In fact, more and more healthcare providers include measuring physical activity levels in their routine during visits.
Remember, the most sustainable plans are those that incorporate recreational activities you personally enjoy. It's like exercising without "exercising"! If you don't have any, try experimenting with different sports or activities you might start to enjoy, such as dancing or swimming.
The current recommendations are 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes per week of intense physical activity.
References
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, news release, May 24, 2017
Cancer Epidemiol. 2017 May 18;49:24-29.
Perm J. 2015 Fall; 19(4): 84–88.