How to Reduce Cancer Risk by 12% in Five Minutes – Scientists' Tips

A study by the University of Glasgow involving 91,292 participants found that each hour of continuous sitting increases the risk of dying from cancer by 9%. Replacing one hour of sitting with light activity reduces the risk by 12%. The authors recommend short breaks for walks or household chores.

Scientists from the University of Glasgow, led by Frederick Ho, conducted a large-scale study analyzing data from 91,292 participants in the UK Biobank project. Volunteers wore fitness trackers for a week, after which their health was monitored for over 12 years. The results showed that each additional hour of continuous sitting increases the risk of dying from cancer by 9%. Moreover, replacing just one hour of continuous sitting per day with light household activity reduced this risk by 12%. By light activity, the authors mean short walks, doing household chores, and brief periods of standing up. The researchers emphasize that intense workouts cannot fully compensate for many hours of sitting. They also note the study's limitations: the data came from a relatively active sample, and the trackers recorded behavior for only seven days. The article was published on the SciTechDaily website.