The findings, published on Wednesday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that: “Stratified analysis showed that the association between alcohol intake and mortality risk was attenuated (all-cause) or almost nullified (cancer) among individuals who met the physical activity recommendations”.
Advertisement
However, people who drank the same amount and did less than the minimum recommended amount of physical activity (150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week) were found to be more at risk of death, especially from cancer.
“Among the physically active, there was no increase in cancer and all-cause mortality up to hazardous levels of alcohol consumption”, says Stamatakis.
In line with previous studies, an worldwide team of researchers has identified a direct association between drinking alcohol and death from all causes, and specifically from cancer.
The study, by academics in London, Canada, Norway and Australia, examined the health of men and women over the age of 40 who had provided data for six editions of the Health Survey for England up to 2006, and the 1998 and 2003 editions of the Scottish Health Survey.
But this risk was substantially lessened or offset among those who were physically active at the basic recommended level (equivalent to at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking) or at the upper recommended level (equivalent to at least 300 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week). “However, by not drinking alcohol, 24,000 cancer cases could be avoided”.
“We can not suggest that doing some exercise is a licence to drink more alcohol, as alcohol abuse causes significant health and societal damage”.
Kevin McConway of The Open University, said differences in diet of people who exercise and those who do not may also be a factor, rather than the level of activity itself.
While the findings do not suggest that exercise completely offsets the adverse affects of alcohol, they do show just how significant of an effect physical activity can have on our overall health.
It is yet more evidence of the medicinal powers of regular physical activity.
These findings follow a recent review study found that alcohol can cause cancer of the oropharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast.
Advertisement
The experts said it was also hard to know if people had been accurate in their estimation of both alcohol intake and exercise.
