The Association for the War of Cancer informed Hai Pa News Corporation:
A new study published recently states that the combination of vigorous physical activity for only a few minutes in the daily routine, may be enough to significantly reduce the risk of getting cancer.
Research
The researchers looked at data from 22,398 adults in the UK for an average of 6.7 years. The participants reported that they do not follow any physical activity, with the exception of walking once a week or less. The study participants wore accelerometers on their wrists, which were used to measure short periods of vigorous activity, such as climbing stairs, walking very fast, walking uphill, and more, during their daily routine. The measurements showed that most of the vigorous activities they performed lasted a minute or less.
During the follow-up period, 2,356 cases of cancer were discovered among the participants. In the analysis of the data and after neutralizing other factors, it was found that vigorous physical activity lasting at least 3.6 minutes a day is associated with a 18-17% decrease in the risk of getting cancer, compared to the absence of vigorous activity. It was also discovered that about 4.5 minutes of vigorous physical activity a day was associated with a 20% decrease in the risk of getting cancer.
Ira Tolchin, the health promoter at the Cancer Society, explained that:
The results of the observational study show that even vigorous physical activity for a short period of time can contribute to reducing the risk of cancer. This is dramatic news that can become a real health recommendation. We call on the public in Israel to incorporate physical activity into the daily routine and to limit sitting time, in order to reduce the risk of cancer. At the same time, it is essential to combine sports activity with a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption.
In addition, when the data in the new study was examined only in relation to types of cancer that are considered to be related to a lack of physical activity, it was found that 4.5 minutes of vigorous activity was associated with a 31% decrease in the risk of getting cancer. This category includes 26 types of cancer, including lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, head and neck cancer, breast cancer, and certain types of blood cancer.
The conclusion of the observational study was that even short but vigorous physical activity every day may have a positive effect on health and reduce the risk of cancer and that any physical activity is better than inactivity. The Cancer Society recommends finding vigorous physical activity that you can persevere with on a daily basis, such as climbing stairs, walking very fast, pedaling fast on a spinning bike, training on a stair machine or elliptical, jumping rope, etc. The study was published in the scientific journal JAMA Oncology on July 27, 2023 and was translated and accessed by the Information Center of the American Cancer Society.
The recommendations of the Cancer Society to reduce the risk of getting cancer
- Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.
- Maintain a healthy and balanced diet and maintain a normal body weight.
- Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine and reduce sitting time.
- Limit alcohol consumption and it is better to avoid it completely.
- Be sure to behave smartly in the sun.
- Perform tests for early diagnosis of cancer according to your age.
