Diet Mail Diet Mantra Wellness Magazine- February 2014 | Page 3

RECENT NUTRITIONAL STUDY

Earlier diagnosis and medical improvements means
many cancer survivors are living longer. Now, a new
study of over 1,000 male cancer survivors suggests
being physically active may add even more years to
their lives.
The study investigators, including researchers from
Harvard Medical School and the Loyola University Chicago
Stritch School of Medicine, report their findings in the
January issue of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
They analyzed data on 1,021 male cancer survivors who
were part of the Harvard Alumni Health Study, whose
participants entered Harvard as undergraduates between
1916 and 1950.
The average age of the men was 71 when they filled in
questionnaires about their physical activities in 1988,
about 6 years after their cancer diagnosis. Men diagnosed
with non-melanoma skin cancer were not included.
The questionnaires asked the men about not only sports
or recreational activity, but also general activity, such as
As a rough guide, a man who weighs 176 pounds (80
walking and stair climbing. This physical activity data was
kg) burns around 4,200 kilojoules a week by walking
then updated in 1993.
briskly for about 30 minutes a day on 5 days of the

During a follow-up that lasted until 2008, the
week.
researchers counted 777 deaths among the
The researchers also found that higher levels of
participants, including 335 from cancer and 190 from
physical activity were linked to lower rates of
cardiovascular disease.
To analyze the data, they grouped the men according to death from cancer and cardiovascular disease.

how many kilojoules per week they burned during
physical activity and looked at the link between these
groups and rates of death.
Men who exercised the most were least likely to die
during follow-up
After adjusting for age, body mass