ABSTRACT
Exercise promotes well-being of people at all ages. Exercise influences multiple physiologic systems, including circulation, metabolism, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, endocrine system, and immunity. The effect of exercise activity on these systems can modify cancer risk. Exercise causes lipolysis or metabolism of fat. Based on body composition and fitness level, fat loss occurs at lower intensity exercise, with the exception of visceral fat. Visceral fat loss depends on higher intensity exercise occurring over longer durations. Exercise prevents weight gain and promotes weight loss among individuals with excess fat. Acute exercise does not influence energy balance in the short term. However, consistent and frequent moderate exercise over time results in negative energy balance, particularly when dietary intake is constant. Maintenance of stable weight through exercise necessitates regular intervals of moderate exercise that exceeds 30 minutes per day for five or more days per week. Physical activity reduces postmenopausal breast, endometrial, colon, pancreatic, and kidney cancers through reduction in body fat and decreases in obesity-related hormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic factors. Increased skeletal muscle metabolism, while receiving little study, may play an indirect role in cancer risk reduction by facilitating basal metabolic rate increases, improving insulin sensitivity, and boosting rate of lipolysis.
