Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Adiposity, and Cancer Mortality in Men

This study sought to evaluate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cancer mortality in men with overweight and obesity.

Maximal exercise testing was performed in 3,610 men (58.8 ± 17.5 years) (n = 2,100 with overweight and n = 1,510 with obesity) free from malignancy at baseline who were followed for 12.3 ± 7.4 years. Body mass index of 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m² for overweight and ≥ 30.0 for obesity categories was used. Hazard ratios and population-attributable risks (PAR) were determined.

During the follow-up period, 11.1% and 9.1% died from cancer among those who had overweight and obesity, respectively. CRF had an inverse and graded association with cancer mortality. Compared with low CRF (< 5 metabolic equivalents), moderate and high CRF levels were associated with 48% and 79% reduced risks for cancer mortality in men who had overweight (P < 0.001) and 55% and 83% lower risks in those who had obesity (P < 0.001), respectively. Low CRF had PARs of 9.3% and 10.5% for cancer mortality in subjects who had overweight and obesity, respectively.

Among men with overweight and obesity, higher CRF is associated with lower cancer mortality. Eliminating low CRF as a risk factor would potentially prevent a considerable number of cancer deaths and reduce the associated societal and economic burden in these high-risk populations.