Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds • Hacker News Board

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#31

Post by saiya-jin » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 10:29 AM UTC

sundvor wrote: post #17

shrimp-chimp wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As in improving cardiorespiratory fitness. According to the article, a Swedish study suggests that, for men, an improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness of 3% annually may reduce risk of prostate cancer by as much as 35%. From how I understand the statements made in the article, they (the researchers) seem to emphasize regularity and intensity; that is, regularity is key, and higher intensity as substitute for durati…

Peter Attia's OUTLIVE is massively interesting. Two key indicators he tracks are grip strength and VO² max. They are the product of (most typically) structured weights and cardio training respectively. Another key thing he addresses is to actually plan for old age, i.e. to factor in how the body will lose muscle mass/ conditioning as we get older - and set eg strength targets for activities to do later in life (i.e.…

That grip strength falls apart when you meet climbers. I know we are outliers in general population but it overall seems like a poor measure with tons of corner cases which invalidate it.

Older marathon runner can have a baby pinch due to not using his/her hands for any sport, yet somehow I doubt they fall into same category as some morbidly obese 250kg ball of fat who didn't move from the bed in past few years.

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#32

Post by kvgr » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 10:37 AM UTC

throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #22

frereubu wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A friend of mine is a cardiac nurse and get massively frustrated by the overly complex regimens that people follow while ignoring the obvious stuff. e.g. going for low-gluten diets while drinking too much alcohol and not exercising enough. In terms of food I've always loved Michael Pollen's description of healthy eating as opposed to fad diets: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Except that everyone's body is different, and sometimes you really should be on a particular diet of some kind. Ask your doctor what to eat, eat that. When they say "stop drinking", "cut back the salt", "eat more fiber", etc, do it.

But that shouldn't be handled by jumping into random diets. Better approach is people think there is something wrong, is to start strict elimination diet and gradually add different food groups.

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#33

Post by saiya-jin » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 10:41 AM UTC

RockCoach wrote: post #21

amatecha wrote: post #2

Huh, so going indoor climbing 2-3x a week has not only boosted my strength and endurance, but is also apparently reducing my chance of prostate cancer?? Sweeeeet.

What is it with this obnoxious 'alternative' frat bro attitude among indoor climbers?

For most folks who are longer in sport, it is by far the best activity that can be done. I do in some form: hiking/camping in wilderness, swimming, biking, paragliding, climbing, via ferratas, alpinism, diving, skiing, ski touring/alpinism and few other things, on top just training with weights and running. Kids cut it significantly but I am still there.

Climbing in non-winter conditions (or indoor) and ski touring are by far the best things for me. I come happy like a toddler after a session / trip on skis. I just don't get this from typical old school team sports, or even single/duo ones.

The biggest thing isn't the physical effort part, not for me. Its exposition to your fear of death, fear of injury which are very strong emotions. You have to repeatedly overcome your biggest fear in whole life and push through, maybe 10x maybe 50x per evening. Do it for 1 or 2 decades at least 1x a week and your personality will change for the better. Also helps with various milder mental issues, not fixing them but improving (this can be said about every sport but its way more intense here).

There are other sports where you expose yourself to similar fears, but in climbing its very easy in afterwork session, without the actual risk (valid for sport climbing).

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#34

Post by going_north » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 10:55 AM UTC

throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #23

philshem wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> eating a balanced diet, staying fit (strength and cardio), having a healthy social life ... and sleep

Adults need less sleep as they age. Still useful to have it, of course...

If you exercise more in order to get fit, sleep becomes more important.

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#35

Post by going_north » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 10:58 AM UTC

saiya-jin wrote: post #31

sundvor wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Peter Attia's OUTLIVE is massively interesting. Two key indicators he tracks are grip strength and VO² max. They are the product of (most typically) structured weights and cardio training respectively. Another key thing he addresses is to actually plan for old age, i.e. to factor in how the body will lose muscle mass/ conditioning as we get older - and set eg strength targets for activities to do later in life (i.e.…

That grip strength falls apart when you meet climbers. I know we are outliers in general population but it overall seems like a poor measure with tons of corner cases which invalidate it. Older marathon runner can have a baby pinch due to not using his/her hands for any sport, yet somehow I doubt they fall into same category as some morbidly obese 250kg ball of fat who didn't move from the bed in past few years.

I'm not convinced climbers ruin the grip strength metric that much. Yes, as a climber your grip strength will be proportionally stronger when compared to other metrics. However, this also means that you climb regularly, which involves a lot of other muscles, balance, and lots of hiking if you do it outdoors.

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#36

Post by markles » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 11:06 AM UTC

saiya-jin wrote: post #33

RockCoach wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is it with this obnoxious 'alternative' frat bro attitude among indoor climbers?

For most folks who are longer in sport, it is by far the best activity that can be done. I do in some form: hiking/camping in wilderness, swimming, biking, paragliding, climbing, via ferratas, alpinism, diving, skiing, ski touring/alpinism and few other things, on top just training with weights and running. Kids cut it significantly but I am still there. Climbing in non-winter conditions (or indoor) and ski touring a…

Does climbing really expose you to your fear of death? You're strapped in, and possibly wearing a helmet if outside, while either top roped or clipped in metal anchors. I can see that fear if you're free climbing, though.

I've gone dozens of times, mostly because friends can't get enough of it, but I find it slow, boring and expensive. I've done mostly outdoor, but some indoor, and while sometimes I enjoy the technical aspect of it. Solo back country trekking and camping seems "scarier" to me.

Personally, after work, the last thing I want is intense stimulation, or to be around a bunch of people pulling on plastic. I'd prefer a nice ride or to get outside, away from everything.

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#37

Post by MattGaiser » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 11:07 AM UTC

frereubu wrote: post #12

jgrahamc wrote: post #8

Here's what seems blindingly obvious to me from everything I've read: eating a balanced diet, staying fit (strength and cardio), having a healthy social life, are vital for staying healthy as you age.

A friend of mine is a cardiac nurse and get massively frustrated by the overly complex regimens that people follow while ignoring the obvious stuff. e.g. going for low-gluten diets while drinking too much alcohol and not exercising enough. In terms of food I've always loved Michael Pollen's description of healthy eating as opposed to fad diets: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

I don't think there is much disagreement on how to be healthier.

The problem is how to be healthier without it costing too much in terms of effort, pain, sacrifice, etc.

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#38

Post by isaacfrond » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 11:11 AM UTC

The absolute first thing you should think with articles like this: is the journalist confusing correlation and causation???

And sure enough, the main finding according the scientific paper [1]

In this cohort of 177 709 men followed up for a mean of 9.6 years, higher cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with a lower risk of colon cancer incidence. A lower risk of death from lung and prostate cancer was also noted.

Keyword being associated. So one needs to wonder, could the causation run the other way? Perhaps, people with cancer are apt to exercise less. In fact you only need to exercise a little bit less to get to a level of 3% less fitness. Seems an entirely reasonable explanation. If so, this means that exercising more would not reduce the chance of getting cancer. Since cancer is a bit of a dice gamble, that does not seem impossible to me.

Yet a further alternative, maybe exercise and lower cancer risk are both caused by something else. Some adjustments were made for various factors, but maybe if you are well-off, you tend to live better, leading to higher fitness and to lower cancer.

So, good to know, but the Guardian article reads way to much in this.

[1]: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle...

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#39

Post by bregma » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 11:15 AM UTC

jgrahamc wrote: post #8

Here's what seems blindingly obvious to me from everything I've read: eating a balanced diet, staying fit (strength and cardio), having a healthy social life, are vital for staying healthy as you age.

You want to live forever? Don't do any of the things that make living worthwhile.

Re: Getting fitter can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, study finds

#40

Post by n4r9 » Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 11:17 AM UTC

pauln99 wrote: post #18

frereubu wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A friend of mine is a cardiac nurse and get massively frustrated by the overly complex regimens that people follow while ignoring the obvious stuff. e.g. going for low-gluten diets while drinking too much alcohol and not exercising enough. In terms of food I've always loved Michael Pollen's description of healthy eating as opposed to fad diets: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

I think Pollen should have said "Eat real food", and stopped there. Then our appetite will take care of itself, and won't require conscious - and ultimately - futile endeavour. And eating meat's fine (from a health perspective, if not ethical necessarily). We've been eating it for a couple of millions of years.

> eating meat's fine... We've been eating it for a couple of millions of years.

The behaviour of ancient humans doesn't necessarily indicate what will keep us modern humans healthy into old age, though. Do we even know whether they ate meat everyday?

Personally speaking, I will generally put on too much weight if I follow my appetite and don't count calories or follow some kind of plan. That's true even if I eat "real", home-cooked food.