Interplay between exercise and BMI; results from an equal access, racially diverse biopsy study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Lifestyle Medicine

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PC) is a significant health concern.
• The interplay between body mass index (BMI) and exercise in relation to PC risk remains incompletely understood.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential interaction between BMI and exercise in determining the risk of developing prostate cancer.
• To examine if higher BMI is associated with an increased risk of aggressive PC and if exercise attenuates this association.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 695 men undergoing prostate biopsy provided data via questionnaire.
• Exercise levels were quantified as metabolic equivalent (MET) hours.
• Logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used, stratified by BMI, to assess the relationship between exercise, BMI, and PC risk (overall, high-grade, and low-grade).

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between exercise levels and overall PC diagnosis across all BMI groups.
• Higher BMI was independently linked to an increased risk of high-grade PC (Gleason 7-10).
• This association between higher BMI and aggressive PC risk persisted even when stratified by exercise groups, with no significant interaction detected between exercise and BMI.

Conclusions:

• Elevated BMI is a risk factor for aggressive prostate cancer, independent of physical activity levels.
• Current exercise levels, as measured, did not demonstrate a protective effect against PC risk in this cohort.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore other potential modulators of PC risk.