Consistent Adherence to Physical Activity Guidelines and Digestive System Cancer Risk and Mortality

Is consistent adherence to the recommended physical activity level (≥7.5 metabolic equivalent task [MET]-hours/week) over time associated with lower digestive system cancer (DSC) risk?In this cohort study of 231 067 men and women followed up for up to 32 years, traditional dose-response analyses suggested that approximately 50 MET-hours/week was associated with optimal DSC risk reduction. After incorporating long-term consistency, consistently reaching the guideline at moderate levels (median, 17 MET-hours/week) was associated with substantial reductions in DSC risk, whereas performing much higher levels (ie, consistently approximately 39 MET-hours/week) was not associated with further benefit.The findings of this study suggest that maintaining a moderate level of physical activity approximately 17 MET-hours/week (ie, 5 hours of brisk walking or 2 hours of running each week) over 3 decades was sufficient to achieve optimal benefit in reducing DSC risk.

Corresponding Author: Edward L. Giovannucci, MD, ScD, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (egiovann@hsph.harvard.edu).

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