Literature and Proposed Biological Mechanisms

nloaded kground: Sedentary behavior (prolonged sitting or reclining characterized by low energy expenditure) ciated with adverse cardiometabolic profiles and premature cardiovascular mortality. Less is known for risk. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the research on sedentary behavior and cancer, to sume possible biological pathways that may underlie these associations, and to propose an agenda for research. thods: Articles pertaining to sedentary behavior and (a) cancer outcomes and (b) mechanisms that nderlie the associations between sedentary behavior and cancer were retrieved using Ovid and Web nce databases. ults: The literature review identified 18 articles pertaining to sedentary behavior and cancer risk, or to ary behavior and health outcomes in cancer survivors. Ten of these studies found statistically signifiositive associations between sedentary behavior and cancer outcomes. Sedentary behavior was assowith increased colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, and prostate cancer risk; cancer mortality in women; eight gain in colorectal cancer survivors. The review of the literature on sedentary behavior and biol pathways supported the hypothesized role of adiposity and metabolic dysfunction as mechanisms t in the association between sedentary behavior and cancer. clusions: Sedentary behavior is ubiquitous in contemporary society; its role in relation to cancer risk be a research priority. Improving conceptualization and measurement of sedentary behavior is necto enhance validity of future work. essary Impact: Reducing sedentary behavior may be a viable new cancer control strategy. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(11); 2691–709. ©2010 AACR.