title: Physical inactivity, water intake and constipation as risk factors for colorectal cancer among adults in Jordan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity has been found to play a role in cancer prevention. The purpose of this matched case-control study was to investigate the association between physical activity levels, water intake, constipation and colorectal cancer (CRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and thirty-two patients diagnosed with CRC (125 male, 107 female) were enrolled in this case-control study. Cases were matched to 271 population controls (137 male, 134 female).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Drinking more than 4 cups of water daily decreased the risk of CRC by 33-42%; however, this effect was non-significant. Having constipation was found to be a significant risk factor for developing CRC with an OR=6.284 (95%CI=2.741-14.40). With reference to sedentary behavior, minimum activity (600-3000 Metabolic Equivalents Task (MET)) had 43% protection against CRC and the level of Health Enhancing Physical Activity OR was 0.58 (at 95%CI; 0.37-0.92). A significant negative association was found between CRC and physical activity levels expressed as both METs and MET-hours/week (p for trend=0.017 and 0.03, respectively). Among females, a significant trend of reduction in CRC by 62% was observed with increasing the level of physical activity expressed in MET (p for trend=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of CRC may be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle and practicing physically activity regularly, especially among females. Consuming adequate amounts of water and healthy bowel motility could also reduce the risk of CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan E-mail : rtayyem@hu.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Reema Fayez
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tayyem
authors.forename: Ihab Numan
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Shehadeh
authors.forename: Suhad Sameer
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abumweis
authors.forename: Hiba Ahmad
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bawadi
authors.forename: Shatha Sabri
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hammad
authors.forename: Kamal Eddin
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bani-Hani
authors.forename: Tareq Mohammad
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Al-Jaberi
authors.forename: Majed Mohammed
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alnusair
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004326:Drinking; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior