Sedentary lifestyle raises ovarian cancer risk

Sedentary lifestyle, devoid of moderate physical activity seems to raise the risk of ovarian cancer. Researchers from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta found that previous studies that have looked at the impact of physical activity on ovarian cancer risk have produced conflicting results. A recent study, conducted in China, examined the role of sedentary activity, which was associated with a minimally increased risk of ovarian cancer risk. The researching team evaluated data from the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, which followed nearly 60,000 postmenopausal women from 1992 until 2001. During that time, 314 women developed ovarian cancer. Women completed questionnaires every 2 years, which asked them about the time spent in recreational and non-recreational physical activities. They were also questioned about the average number of hours spent per day sitting (apart from time at work). The researchers observed no significant relationships between type or degree of physical activity and ovarian cancer risk. However, women who spent more than 3 hours per day sitting during leisure time had a 55 percent higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who were less sedentary. The findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle could lead to hormonal changes that promote the development of cancerous cells.