Colon Cancer Prevention
Healthy Lifestyle Tips
The following lifestyle changes have been studied in connection with colon cancer.
Exercise and prevention
Most studies show that people who exercise are at lower risk of colon cancer or precancerous changes in the colon, compared with sedentary people.124,125,126,127 Regular exercise appears to be one factor that will predictably lower the risk of colon cancer.
Obesity and risk
Several studies suggest that obesity in men significantly increases the risk of colon cancer128 or rectal cancer,129 though some scientists believe that obesity may only be a surrogate for other risk factors such as a high-fat diet or lack of exercise.130 Although the relationship between obesity and colon cancer risk in women is less clear, some researchers have found the increased risk of colon cancer in obese women as well as men.131
Smoking and risk
A history of smoking has been reported to significantly increase the risk of colon cancer in both men132 and women.133 Avoidance of tobacco is an important step in the prevention of colon cancer.