Being in good physical shape could reduce the risk of nine types of cancer | Hacker News Reader

Being in good physical shape could reduce the risk of nine types of cancer

nbcnews.com

25 points_xerces_7 comments

I've recently read Dr. Peter Attia's book, "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity" and he talks about the failures of our modern medical system when it comes to preventing (or at least delaying) disease instead of treating disease once it is present.

Cancer is one of what he refers to as the "Four Horsemen" (the chronic diseases of aging - cancer, heart disease, metabolic dysfunction and metabolic syndrome, and neurodegenerative diseases).

His book focuses on a number of changes we can make to reduce our risk of these chronic diseases of aging, one of which is exercise and physical fitness.

I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in living not only a longer life, but a more enjoyable life in old age.

Great read, especially the section on how important emotional health and wellbeing are to overall health.

Agreed, that section led me to dig into "No Bad Parts" by Richard Schwartz for more information on Internal Family Systems, which I find fascinating.

I've recently finished "Exercised" by Daniel Lieberman. He'd argue that this headline is wrong and dangerously misleading. That is, our evolutionary natural state is movement, being fit (in a day to day life requires it sort of way), lacking in various diseases (e.g., cancer, T2 diabetes, etc.).

That is "good physical shape" is the evolutionary norm. These cancers (likely) often increase from a mismatch of current diet + lifestyle vs what our bodies (and minds) rvolved to expect. Our biology did not evolve to be so inactive, carry 30, 40 and certain not 100+ extra pounds, eat so much unhealthy food, etc.

This headline's POV normalizes what is historically abnormal. That doesn't help to address and solve the problem.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ujRwf1HdNjk

https://scholar.harvard.edu/exercised/home

Does this person cite any research that would prove his claims? Edit: Mainly the point about how exercising is better than not exercising.

That's basically the crux of the entire book. He's a prof at Harvard. It's not a self-help type of fitness book. It's academic almost to a fault (read: great info but not too much fun to read).

If you're looking for similar but more accessible, try "The Comfort Crisis" by Michael Easter. Same general idea (i.e., how today's world is not fitting for the type of world we evolved in) but less into the weeds of the details.

Being in physical shape just a priori makes sense.

It's so weird to me that people need a reason to be fit. Why would you not want to be stronger?

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