Don’t have time to exercise? This activity reduces the risk of cancer
Studies have already suggested that exercise can reduce cancer cells in the body; however, proper workouts and going to the gym are time-consuming for many people, with less research on the subject of incidental exercise.
Incidental activities include taking short walks for work-related tasks and participating in routine household chores. No time or special equipment is required for these exercises.
A new study, published in JAMA Oncology, explored the benefits of such exercises that include short walks to get to transportation, climbing stairs, carrying heavy purchases, etc.
The study participants were selected who had never had cancer and did not exercise in their spare time.
With the help of a wrist tracker, her routine was monitored. Participants’ activities were then linked to future cancer registries, including other cancer-associated health records over the next 6.7 years.
The researchers reported that about 94% had short bursts of vigorous activity and that about 92% of all sessions were in very short bursts lasting up to one minute.
“A minimum of about 3.5 minutes each day was associated with a 17-18% reduction in overall cancer risk compared with doing no such activity at all,” the research indicated.
The scientists concluded that half of the participants did at least 4.5 minutes a day, which was associated with a 20-21% reduction in overall risk.
For breast, lung, and bowel cancers, the results were stronger and the risk reduction was more pronounced.
For example, a minimum of 3.5 minutes per day of vigorous incidental activity reduced the risk of these cancers by 28-29%. With 4.5 minutes a day, these risks were reduced by 31-32%.
Despite the results, the researchers said this is an observational study, meaning they looked at a group of people and their outcomes retrospectively and did not test new interventions.
This activity shows promise in preventing cancer among those who are unable to exercise.