Sedentary Behavior and Incident Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

Background Sedentary behavior is ubiquitous in modern adults' daily lives and it has been suggested to be associated with incident cancer. However, the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to clarify the association between sedentary behavior and incident cancer. Method PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to March 2014. All prospective cohort studies on the association between sedentary behavior and incident cancer were included. The summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random effect model. Results A total of 17 prospective studies from 14 articles, including a total of 857,581 participants and 18,553 cases, were included in the analysis for sedentary behavior and risk of incident cancer. The overall meta-analysis suggested that sedentary behavior increased risk of cancer (RR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.12–1.28), with no evidence of heterogeneity between studies (I 2 = 7.3%, P = 0.368). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that there were statistical associations between sedentary behavior and some cancer types (endometrial cancer: RR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.08–1.53; colorectal cancer: RR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.12–1.49; breast cancer: RR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.03–1.33; lung cancer: RR = 1.27, 95%CI = 1.06–1.52). However, there was no association of sedentary behavior with ovarian cancer (RR = 1.26, 95%CI = 0.87–1.82), renal cell carcinoma (RR = 1.11, 95%CI = 0.87–1.41) or non-Hodgkin lymphoid neoplasms (RR = 1.09, 95%CI = 0.82–1.43). Conclusion The present meta-analysis suggested that prolonged sedentary behavior was independently associated with an increased risk of incident endometrial, colorectal, breast, and lung cancers, but not with ovarian cancer, renal cell carcinoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoid neoplasms.

• Publication year

  2014

• Venue

  PLoS ONE

• Publication date

  2014-08-25

• Fields of study

  Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0105709PMID 25153314PMCID 4143275
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Physical Activity in Different Periods of Life, Sedentary Behavior, and the Risk of Ovarian Cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study

  2013influential reference
• Body mass index, physical activity, and colorectal cancer by anatomical subsites: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

  2013cited by this paper
• Prospective cohort study on television viewing time and incidence of lung cancer: findings from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study

  2013cited by this paper
• Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Likelihood of Breast Cancer among Black and White Women: A Report from the Southern Community Cohort Study

  2013cited by this paper
• Anthropometric Measures and Physical Activity and the Risk of Lung Cancer in Never-Smokers: A Prospective Cohort Study

  2013cited by this paper
• Association of sedentary behaviour with colon and rectal cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies

  2013cited by this paper
• Original Contribution Physical Activity, Occupational Sitting Time, and Colorectal Cancer Risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study

  2013cited by this paper
• Sedentary behaviour and cardiovascular disease: a review of prospective studies.

  2012influential reference
• Association of Sedentary Behaviour with Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

  2012cited by this paper
• Letter to the editor: standardized use of the terms "sedentary" and "sedentary behaviours".

  2012cited by this paper
• Commentary: Too much sitting--a public health threat?

  2012cited by this paper
• Recreational physical activity, leisure sitting time and risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoid neoplasms in the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Cohort

  2012cited by this paper
• Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: systematic review and meta-analysis

  2012cited by this paper
• Changing Physical Activity Behavior in Type 2 Diabetes

  2012cited by this paper
• Evidence that women meeting physical activity guidelines do not sit less: An observational inclinometry study

  2012cited by this paper
• Dose Response Between Physical Activity and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Meta-Analysis

  2011cited by this paper
• Sedentary time and cardio-metabolic biomarkers in US adults: NHANES 2003-06.

  2011cited by this paper
• Television viewing time independently predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: the EPIC Norfolk study.

  2011cited by this paper
• A prospective analysis of prolonged sitting time and risk of renal cell carcinoma among 300,000 older adults.

  2011cited by this paper
• Television viewing and risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis.

  2011cited by this paper
• Physical activity and breast cancer risk in Chinese women

  2011cited by this paper
• Beyond recreational physical activity: examining occupational and household activity, transportation activity, and sedentary behavior in relation to postmenopausal breast cancer risk.

  2010cited by this paper
• Sedentary Behavior and Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Proposed Biological Mechanisms

  2010influential reference
• Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and endometrial cancer risk in the NIH‐AARP Diet and Health Study

  2009cited by this paper
• Physical Activity and All-cause Mortality: An Updated Meta-analysis with Different Intensity Categories

  2009cited by this paper
• Obesity and Cancer: The Role of Dysfunctional Adipose Tissue

  2009cited by this paper
• The role of body weight in the relationship between physical activity and endometrial cancer: Results from a large cohort of US women

  2008cited by this paper
• Too little exercise and too much sitting: Inactivity physiology and the need for new recommendations on sedentary behavior

  2008cited by this paper
• Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of colon and rectal cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study

  2008cited by this paper
• Recreational physical activity and sedentary behavior in relation to ovarian cancer risk in a large cohort of US women.

  2006cited by this paper
• Physical Activity and Risk of Endometrial Cancer: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study

  2006cited by this paper
• Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test

  1997cited by this paper
• Operating characteristics of a rank correlation test for publication bias.

  1994cited by this paper
• Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease.

  1959cited by this paper

• Association of lifestyle factors with breast cancer incidence: An overview of systematic reviews.

  2025cites this paper
• Correlation between a sedentary lifestyle and the risk of colon cancer: a systematic review

  2025cites this paper
• Association Between Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity, and Skin Cancer Among Outpatient US Adults: Evidence from NHANES

  2025cites this paper
• Cancer Risk Perceptions in South Australia: A Descriptive Analysis of a Population Survey

  2025cites this paper
• Exploring the effectiveness of yoga interventions in improving the well‐being and productivity of desk‐based workers—A systematic review and meta‐analysis

  2025cites this paper
• Environmental risk factors, protective factors and lifestyles for lung cancer: an umbrella review

  2025cites this paper
• Physical activity in older cancer patients: evidence and clinical implications

  2025influential citation
• Risks of colorectal and extracolonic cancers following colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  2025cites this paper
• Diurnal timing of physical activity and risk of colorectal cancer in the UK Biobank

  2024cites this paper
• Evaluating the Impact of Yoga Practices to Improve Chronic Venous Insufficiency Symptoms: A Classification by Gaussian Process

  2024cites this paper
• Aktuelle Evidenz zu Umfang und gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen von arbeitsbezogenem sedentärem Verhalten

  2024cites this paper
• Revisión de alcance y calidad de los estudios sobre el ejercicio físico en pacientes varones adultos con diagnóstico de sarcoma

  2024cites this paper
• Sedentary behavior and the risk of breast cancer: findings from a Nigerian case–control study

  2024cites this paper
• Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study

  2024cites this paper
• Investigation of risk factors for benign or malignant endometrial pathology in patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding

  2024cites this paper
• Economic burden of excessive sedentary behaviour in Canada

  2023cites this paper
• The Association between Physical Activity and Cancer Prevention, Recovery, and Recurrence: A Narrative Review

  2023cites this paper
• National and subnational incidence, mortality and associated factors of colorectal cancer in China: A systematic analysis and modelling study

  2023cites this paper
• A multicomponent intervention to reduce daily sitting time in office workers: the SMART Work & Life three-arm cluster RCT.

  2023cites this paper
• Shared Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Evidence for Joint Prevention

  2023cites this paper
• Impact assessment of e-trainings in occupational safety and health: a literature review

  2023cites this paper
• Association between domain-specific sedentary behaviour and endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  2023cites this paper
• What is the optimal type and dose of physical activity for colorectal cancer prevention?

  2023cites this paper
• Genetic associations of leisure sedentary behaviors and the risk of 15 site‐specific cancers: A Mendelian randomization study

  2023cites this paper
• Comparing survey data to qualitative themes in patient stories to help researchers better identify pressing community healthcare needs.

  2023cites this paper
• Valuing preventable deaths from major non-communicable diseases and all causes associated with sedentary behavior in Argentina.

  2023cites this paper
• Glutamine Starvation Affects Cell Cycle, Oxidative Homeostasis and Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer Cells

  2023cites this paper
• Modelling the potential health and economic benefits of reducing population sitting time in Australia

  2022cites this paper
• Integrative Approaches to the Treatment of Cancer

  2022cites this paper
• Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research recommendations and endometrial cancer risk: a multicentric case–control study

  2022cites this paper
• The Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Time in Different Target Groups and Settings in Germany: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Recommendations on Interventions

  2022cites this paper
• Effectiveness of an intervention for reducing sitting time and improving health in office workers: three arm cluster randomised controlled trial

  2022cites this paper
• Sedentary behavior and cancer–an umbrella review and meta-analysis

  2022cites this paper
• Economic burden of low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour in Finland

  2022cites this paper
• Psychosocial stress and cancer risk: a narrative review

  2022cites this paper
• Prospective Analyses of Sedentary Behavior in Relation to Risk of Ovarian Cancer.

  2022cites this paper
• Effects of Substituting Types of Physical Activity on Body Fat Mass and Work Efficiency among Workers

  2021cites this paper
• Daily sitting time and its association with non-communicable diseases and multimorbidity in Catalonia

  2021cites this paper
• Leisure Sedentary Behavior and Risk of Lung Cancer: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study and Mediation Analysis

  2021cites this paper
• Too Much Sitting

  2021cites this paper
• Is Neighbourhood Linking Social Capital Associated With Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality? A National Cohort Study From Sweden

  2021cites this paper
• Translating 2019 ACSM Cancer Exercise Recommendations for a Physiatric Practice: Derived Recommendations from an International Expert Panel

  2021cites this paper
• Adverse associations of sedentary behavior with cancer incidence and all-cause mortality: A prospective cohort study

  2021cites this paper
• Momentary Emotions and Salivary Cortisol: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment Studies.

  2021cites this paper
• Sedentary behaviour in relation to ovarian cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  2021cites this paper
• Leisure-Time Physical Activity Versus Sedentary Behaviour in Relation to Colorectal Adenoma and Cancer: Are these Two Distinct Risk Factors?

  2020cites this paper
• A Cost and Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Stand More AT Work (SMArT Work) Intervention

  2020cites this paper
• New global guidelines on sedentary behaviour and health for adults: broadening the behavioural targets

  2020cites this paper
• The importance of physical activity in colorectal cancer prevention

  2020cites this paper
• Eastern North Carolina Head Start Teachers’ personal and professional experiences with healthy eating and physical activity: a qualitative exploration

  2020cites this paper
• University students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and barriers related to reducing sedentary behavior: a qualitative study

  2020cites this paper
• Sedentary behavior and risk of breast cancer: a dose–response meta-analysis from prospective studies

  2020cites this paper
• The health status of the early care and education workforce in the USA: a scoping review of the evidence and current practice

  2020cites this paper
• Associations of Body Mass Index, Weight Change, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior With Endometrial Cancer Risk Among Japanese Women: The Japan Collaborative Cohort Study

  2020cites this paper
• A theory-based multicomponent intervention to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour in professional male workers: protocol for a cluster randomised crossover pilot feasibility study

  2020cites this paper
• Physical activity and breast cancer. Risk, survival and perceived energy.

  2020cites this paper
• What is the gut feeling telling us about physical activity in colorectal carcinogenesis?

  2020cites this paper
• Prevalence of mobile device-related lower extremity discomfort: a systematic review

  2020cites this paper
• Evaluation of serum irisin levels in patients with endometrial hyperplasia: A controlled cross-sectional study

  2019cites this paper
• Risk factors for endometrial cancer: An umbrella review of the literature

  2019cites this paper
• Association of sedentary behavior and metabolic syndrome.

  2019cites this paper
• Prolonged Sitting, Its Combination With Physical Inactivity and Incidence of Lung Cancer: Prospective Data From the HUNT Study

  2019cites this paper
• The Influence of Sedentary Behavior on Cancer Risk: Epidemiologic Evidence and Potential Molecular Mechanisms

  2019cites this paper
• Direct healthcare costs of sedentary behaviour in the UK

  2019cites this paper
• NHS staff with height-adjustable workstations and behaviour change strategies to reduce workplace sitting time : protocol for the Stand More AT ( SMArT ) Work cluster randomised controlled trial

  2019cites this paper
• Estimates of the current and future burden of cancer attributable to sedentary behavior in Canada.

  2019cites this paper
• Physical activity and sedentary behavior in women with rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison of patients with low and high disease activity and healthy controls

  2019cites this paper
• Loughborough University Institutional Repository Effectiveness of the Stand More AT ( SMArT ) Work intervention : cluster randomised controlled trial

  2019cites this paper
• American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable Report on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cancer Prevention and Control

  2019cites this paper
• Lifestyle risk factors and the primary prevention of cancer

  2019cites this paper
• Körperliche Aktivität vor, während und nach Krebserkrankung

  2019cites this paper
• The Correlation between Sedentary Behavior by Time Period and Physical Activity and Health Indicators among Japanese Workers

  2019cites this paper
• SOME AROMATIC AMINES AND RELATED COMPOUNDS VOLUME 127 IARC MONOGRAPHS ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF CARCINOGENIC HAZARDS TO HUMANS

  2019cites this paper
• American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable Report on Physical Activity , Sedentary Behavior , and Cancer Prevention and Control

  2019cites this paper
• Sedentary Behaviour and Cancer

  2018cites this paper
• Associations between physical behaviour patterns and levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety and well-being in middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional study using isotemporal substitution models

  2018cites this paper
• The associations of sitting time and physical activity on total and site-specific cancer incidence: Results from the HUNT study, Norway

  2018cites this paper
• Stand More AT Work (SMArT Work): using the behaviour change wheel to develop an intervention to reduce sitting time in the workplace

  2018cites this paper
• Lifestyle Interventions for Breast Cancer Prevention

  2018cites this paper
• Effectiveness of the Stand More AT (SMArT) Work intervention: cluster randomised controlled trial

  2018cites this paper
• Evaluating the Evidence on Sitting, Smoking, and Health: Is Sitting Really the New Smoking?

  2018cites this paper
• A three arm cluster randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the SMART Work & Life intervention for reducing daily sitting time in office workers: study protocol

  2018cites this paper
• Long Non-Coding RNAs in Obesity-Induced Cancer

  2018cites this paper
• CE: Too Much Sitting A Newly Recognized Health Risk

  2018cites this paper
• Many Kansas Worksites Offer Few Interventions to Reduce Occupational Sedentary Behavior

  2018cites this paper
• Evidence Portfolio – Sedentary Subcommittee, Question 4

  2018cites this paper
• Do the associations of sedentary behaviour with cardiovascular disease mortality and cancer mortality differ by physical activity level? A systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis of data from 850 060 participants

  2018cites this paper
• Efficacy of a Multicomponent Intervention to Reduce Workplace Sitting Time in Office Workers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

  2018cites this paper
• Parents' role constructions for facilitating physical activity‐related behaviours in their young children

  2018influential citation
• Evaluation of How Integrative Oncology Services Are Valued between Hematology/Oncology Patients and Hematologists/Oncologists at a Tertiary Care Center

  2018cites this paper
• Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, diet, and cancer: an update and emerging new evidence.

  2017cites this paper
• Associations of reallocating sitting time into standing or stepping with glucose, insulin and insulin sensitivity: a cross-sectional analysis of adults at risk of type 2 diabetes

  2017cites this paper
• University of Dundee An investigation into U.K. medical students' knowledge of lifestyle factors on cancer

  2017cites this paper
• Sitting time and occupational and recreational physical activity in relation to the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

  2017cites this paper
• Recent advances in the link between physical activity, sedentary behavior, physical fitness, and colorectal cancer

  2017cites this paper
• An investigation into UK medical students’ knowledge of lifestyle factors on cancer

  2017cites this paper
• A Clinician's Guide to Integrative Oncology

  2017cites this paper
• An Evaluation of the Evidence Relating to Physical Inactivity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cancer Incidence and Mortality

  2017cites this paper
• Access to oncology physical rehabilitation services in British Columbia

  2017cites this paper
• The Power of Movement: Integrating Exercise

  2017cites this paper