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Performance

C · Interpret with caution

Muscle-strengthening activity and cancer risk

Subject: Muscle-strengthening activity and cancer

What this means

More muscle-strengthening activity was linked to 26% less kidney cancer, but not to 12 other cancer types. Training 2 or more times a week was linked to lower cancer mortality.

Nascimento W, Ferrari G, Martins CB, Rey-López JP, Izquierdo M, Lee DH, Giovannucci EL, Rezende LFM · 2021 · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 18(1):69

What does this rating mean?

Limited, mixed or hard-to-translate evidence. Useful as direction, not as a rule.

Findings

Association between muscle-strengthening activity and the occurrence of, and mortality from, cancer.

Size of the research

Twelve studies with a combined 1,297,620 participants, followed for 6 to 25 years.

What to keep in mind

This is observational research, so cause and effect have not been shown. The kidney cancer finding rests on 2 studies.

Practical conclusion for REZA

Not used by REZA in individual client conversations — population-level observational evidence doesn't translate into personal risk advice.

View method and source

Methodology

Systematic review with meta-analysis of observational research

Limitations

Observational. Never used by REZA in communication toward individual clients, because the step from population association to personal risk can't be made.

Original source

DOI: 10.1186/s12966-021-01142-7 · PMID: 34051796

View on PubMed →

This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.