Sitting And Breast Cancer: Sitting For Extended Periods May Increase Breast Cancer Risk In Women

Previous studies have discussed the dangers of prolonged sitting. Yet now, new findings published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reveal that women who sit for extended periods of time may be at an increased risk of breast cancer.

Researchers at the American Cancer Society found that leisure-time spent sitting was actually associated with a 10 percent increae in cancer for women, linking to breast, multiple myeloma, and ovarian cancers.

For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 146,000 men and women who had not been diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of their enrollment at the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort.

While previous research has linked physical activity to cancer prevention, few studies have actually examined sitting to risks involving specific types of cancer. Yet within the past few decades alone, certain technological advancements have increased the need for sitting, involving the use of computers, video games and varying changes in transportation that increase a sometimes sedentary lifestyle.

Findings revealed, after adjusting for physical activity, BMI and other factors, that leisure-time that involved sitting increased women's risk of developing cancer by a relatively modest amount. However, this association was not apparent in men.

"Further research is warranted to better understand the differences in associations between men and women," the researchers concluded in their study.

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