Prolonged Sitting Raises Cancer Risk; Strength Training Lowers Women's Heart Attack Risk

A new analysis of UK Biobank data involving 91,292 participants found that each additional hour per day of uninterrupted sitting increased cancer mortality risk by 9% and was linked to higher overall cancer incidence, including obesity‑related cancers. Breaking up long sitting periods with light activity reduced these risks, and substituting an hour of prolonged sitting with light movement lowered cancer death risk by 12%.

Separate research tracking more than 117,000 women for an average of 14.5 years reported that women who performed at least two hours of resistance training weekly experienced a 20% lower risk of major cardiovascular disease and a 44% lower risk of heart attacks, compared with those who did not strength train. The benefit was strongest when resistance training was combined with recommended aerobic activity and limited daily screen time.

Both studies highlight the health importance of how physical activity is distributed throughout the day, suggesting that regular interruptions of sedentary time and incorporation of strength exercises can substantially reduce serious disease outcomes.