Study: 15 Extra Minutes of Daily Exercise May Lower Cancer Risk - Sarmad

A recent scientific study has shown that increasing daily movement, even for short periods, may be associated with a reduced risk of cancer, while replacing physical activity with sitting or sleeping may be linked to an increased risk.

Medical Xpress reported, citing researchers from University College London (UCL), that replacing 15 minutes of sleep or sedentary behavior with 15 minutes of movement was associated with approximately a 2% reduction in cancer risk.

According to the study, published in BMC Medicine on July 18, researchers analyzed data from 59,218 participants in the UK Biobank, with an average age of 61.7 years, relying on data from wearable devices to monitor daily movement patterns.

During a follow-up period of approximately eight years, researchers recorded 2,385 cancer cases. The results showed that replacing 30 minutes of physical activity with 30 minutes of sedentary behavior was associated with an 8% increase in cancer risk, while replacing it with sleep was linked to a 7% increase in risk.

The study also indicated that losing just a few minutes of vigorous physical activity per day, such as climbing stairs quickly or running to catch a bus, may be associated with an increased cancer risk, according to the statistical models used.

Researchers emphasized the importance of maintaining daily movement and reducing sitting time, clarifying that physical activity is not limited to organized exercise but includes various daily activities that increase overall movement levels.

At the same time, they noted that the results reflect statistical associations and do not prove a direct causal relationship between the amount of physical activity and cancer risk.

The study highlights the importance of maintaining regular physical activity and limiting periods of inactivity, considering daily movement as part of a healthy lifestyle that contributes to supporting overall health.