A new study from the United Kingdom found that even light physical activity can reduce your chances of developing cancer.
Researchers from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the University of Oxford examined data from more than 85,000 adults in the U.K. They discovered that those who engaged in light and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity daily physical activity possessed a reduced risk of developing cancer compared to more sedentary peers.
Previous studies have shown that intense aerobic exercise raises the ability of internal organs to consume glucose, helping starve cancerous tumors of an available energy source. However, the latest findings found that even less intensive physical movement can be beneficial for lowering cancer risk.
The finding, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on March 26, concluded that even performing errands and household chores can make a material impact.
Of the initial 85,000 adults in the study, 2,633 had been diagnosed with one of 13 assessed cancer types after an average follow-up period of just under six years. Participants with the highest amount of daily physical activity had a 26% lower risk of developing cancer compared to the group with the lowest levels of movement.
Zooming in further, the study’s authors found that participants who registered more steps each day saw lower cancer risks, up to a point. The group that moved 7,000 steps per day had an 11% lower cancer risk than the group that moved just 5,000. Further, those who moved 9,000 steps daily had a 16% lower cancer risk than individuals who recorded 5,000 steps. Beyond 9,000 steps, however, the benefits trailed off.
Notably, the pace of steps (i.e., the intensity) was not linked to differing risk profiles.