HHS HealthBeat (March 18, 2008)

Walk it out

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A study suggests that, whether it’s walking or working out, whichever way women choose will help reduce their risk of colon cancer.

The study says as little as one hour a week can provide benefit. And those who did more strenuous activities than walking for an hour got more benefit.

Researcher Kathleen Wolin of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reviewed data on more than 79,000 women over 16 years in a database supported by the National Institutes of Health. She found 547 had developed colon cancer.

Wolin says:

“For so many people who do nothing, you know, to realize that you can reduce your risk by doing something as little as walking a couple of hours total a week, we think is pretty compelling.” (9 seconds)

The study was in the International Journal of Cancer.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011