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During their research, scientists discovered that engaging in light to moderate physical activity on a daily basis—such as walking 9,000 steps—can reduce the risk of developing more than 10 different types of cancer.
Increasing evidence suggests that regular exercise and physical activity overall lower the risk of cancer. However, according to a team from Oxford, most previous studies relied on self-reported data from participants. This means that the intensity of physical activity was not always accurately represented, as reported by the Independent. Additionally, these studies primarily focused on the benefits of high-intensity workouts rather than lighter exercises in cancer prevention.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
In this new study, scientists objectively assessed health data from over 85,000 residents of the UK, with an average age of 63. This data was collected using accelerometers worn on the participants’ wrists. The team was particularly interested in metrics such as overall daily activity, its intensity, and the daily step count.
The researchers compared the average daily values of these metrics with the incidence of 13 types of cancer, including breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
After five years of observation, one of the 13 types of cancer developed in 2,600 participants. “During the observation period, cancer was diagnosed in 2,633 out of 85,394 participants,” the scientists reported.
Among those who engaged in the most intense physical activities daily, the risk of developing cancer was 26 percent lower compared to those who preferred the least intense activities.
Professor Aiden Doherty, a co-author of the study, noted, “Our research emphasizes the importance of all forms of movement. Increasing daily steps, light activity, or moderate to high-intensity exercises—any level of physical activity contributes to reducing cancer risk.”
The team also highlighted that the cancer risk is lowest for those who walk 9,000 steps a day compared to those who only walk 5,000 steps daily.
According to the scientists, the trend of reduced risk persisted even after adjusting for demographic factors, lifestyle, body mass index, and overall health status.
The study’s findings indicated that individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle could lower their cancer risk by simply increasing their daily walking, regardless of the pace.
The researchers’ conclusions were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
