Watching TV for 2 hours raises your risk of bowel cancer by 70%

A new study has found a link between prolonged screen time, such as watching TV, and an increased risk of bowel cancer. The research showed that lazing in front of the TV for two hours a day or more raises the risk of bowel cancer by nearly 70 per cent.

The study, is the first to identify sedentary lifestyle as a factor that may contribute to the sharp rise in cases of bowel cancer, sometimes called colorectal cancer, among those under the age of 50.

What is bowel cancer and what are the symptoms?

Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that starts in the large bowel (colon) and the back passage (rectum). It is treatable, but the earlier the condition is detected, the easier it is to treat. 
The signs and symptoms of bowel cancer can include -

• Bleeding from your bottom
• Blood in your stools
• A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habits - lasting at least 3 weeks
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
• A pain or lump in your abdomen

You should seek medical help if you have one or more of the symptoms of bowel cancer, particularly if they persist for more then four weeks. 

Bowel cancer risk and TV viewing: What does the research say?

The researchers studied sedentary behaviours, including TV viewing time, of 89,278 American women in the Study. The findings showed that of the 118 cases of young-onset colorectal cancer diagnosed over two decades of follow up, more than one hour of sitting in front of the TV everyday was associated with a 12 per cent increase in risk compared to those who watched less. The results were even more evident for those viewing more than two hours per day with a nearly 70 per cent increased risk.

According to the study, the results were independent of BMI and exercise and was consistently observed among women who didn’t have a family history of bowel cancer, indicating that being sedentary may be an altogether distinct risk factor for young-onset colorectal cancer. However, the association was stronger for rectal cancer in comparison to colon cancer.

This study may help identify those at high risk and who might benefit more from early screening,” said the study’s co-senior author.

“A sedentary lifestyle is an emerging risk factor for CRC after age 50 years, but its role in young-onset CRC is unknown,” the researchers wrote.

The authors, however, noted that they observed no clear increase in risk for other forms of sitting at home, such as meal time or time spent at a desk.

Traditionally, colorectal cancer - which is mostly preventable - is considered to only strike people who are over the age of 50. But more and more people in their 20s and 30s have been getting diagnosed with the disease.

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