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Association between physical activity and inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective cohort study
Yitian Wei1, Binbin He1, Ge Zhang1
1School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Frontiers in Public Health
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Physical activity (PA) is linked to a lower risk of Crohn's disease (CD). The association with ulcerative colitis (UC) is complex, with benefits seen at higher activity levels, but excessive light PA may increase UC risk.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited and inconsistent evidence exists on the long-term association between physical activity (PA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies for IBD, including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the longitudinal relationship between varying intensities of physical activity (PA) and the risk of developing IBD.
- To specifically assess the association with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) incidence.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study utilizing UK Biobank data from 293,578 participants.
- Self-reported PA categorized by intensity (light, moderate, vigorous); IBD cases identified via hospital records and death registries.
- Multivariable Cox regression and restricted cubic spline curves analyzed PA-IBD associations and non-linear relationships.
Main Results:
- Higher total PA was significantly associated with a reduced risk of Crohn's disease (CD).
- PA showed an insignificant association with ulcerative colitis (UC) in the general cohort, but risk reduction was observed at activity levels exceeding recommendations.
- A complex, intensity-dependent relationship was found: moderate-to-vigorous activity generally showed benefit, while excessive light PA was paradoxically linked to increased UC risk in certain groups.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity (PA) is inversely associated with the risk of Crohn's disease (CD).
- The association between PA and ulcerative colitis (UC) is nuanced, potentially depending on higher activity thresholds and specific intensity profiles.
- Tailored exercise recommendations may be beneficial for IBD prevention strategies.
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