Binge-watching TV ‘may increase bowel cancer risk in men’

Men who sit and watch TV for extended periods of time are at an elevated risk of developing bowel cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Imperial College London and the University of Oxford analysed data from more than half a million men and women, in what was the largest study to date investigating the link between sedentary behaviour and bowel cancer risk.

It was found that those who binge-watched more than four hours of TV over a day were more likely to develop bowel cancer than those watching less than an hour, an association that was not seen among women.

Researchers also found that an increase in physical activity was associated with lower colon cancer risk in men. No link between computer screen time and bowel cancer risk was identified, which was an unexpected finding.

Dr Neil Murphy, lead researcher at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said: "Being sedentary is also associated with weight gain and greater body fat. Excess body fat may influence the blood levels of hormones and other chemicals which affect the way our cells grow, and can increase bowel cancer risk."

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