A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concluded that physical activity is associated with a lowered risk of many types of cancers. Not surprising, but a fantastic reminder as we head into a season of eating and relaxing on the couch. Don’t miss the point- the holidays are intended to take a break from it all and enjoy festivities, but a little activity during these weeks goes a long way!

The study, headed by Steven C. Moore, Ph.D. of the National Cancer Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health) was part of a population-wide cancer prevention and control effort. This remarkable study utilized 1.44 million people between the ages of 19 and 98 throughout the USA and Europe and the results were a pronounced lower incidence of new cancers.

“Leisure-time (or holiday time) physical activity” was determined to lower the risk of colon, breast, endometrial, esophageal, liver, kidney, head and neck, bladder cancer and leukemia. Leisure-time physical activity is defined as exercise done “at one’s own discretion” and includes walking, running, hiking, climbing, swimming and other moderate to vigorous intensity activities. The average duration of activity in the study was 150 minutes per week or about 2-½ hours per week.

In reality movement equals overall good health. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. Alternatively, one can do 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.

Bottom line: we need to move, even in smaller or less strenuous increments! Especially at Thanksgiving when we love to eat and relax. We all need to avoid extended stasis and incorporate a standard level of exercise or some activity (at the very least). That’s why a Clinical Exercise specialist like Dr. Hall is committed to not just relieve pain at its source, without surgery or prescription medication, but to help patients achieve overall better health through nutrition, exercise and if needed, pain remediation.

So our Thanksgiving message to all our patients, family and friends is to try to stay active as you celebrate the season. Stagnation breeds disease.

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