University College London study links daily movement to lower cancer risk

A study conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL) suggests that even small increases in daily physical activity can lead to a lower risk of developing cancer. Published in BMC Medicine, the research analyzed data from 59,218 participants from the UK Biobank over an eight-year period.

Findings indicate that replacing just 15 minutes of sedentary behavior or sleep with 15 minutes of movement is associated with an approximately 2% reduction in cancer risk. Conversely, replacing 30 minutes of physical activity with sedentary behavior was linked to an 8% increase in risk, while replacing it with sleep resulted in a 7% increase.

The study emphasizes that physical activity does not need to be limited to organized exercise; everyday movements such as walking quickly, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries contribute to overall mobility and health benefits.