A new study has found that short bursts of vigorous physical activity during everyday activities can help lower the risk of cancer, even in people who don’t typically exercise.
These bursts of activity, which can last less than a minute, offer significant cancer protection, particularly for cancers that are known to respond well to physical activity.
In a study published in JAMA Oncology, researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia tracked the daily activity of over 22,000 participants in the United Kingdom who reported not liking to exercise. The participants wore wearable devices to monitor their activity levels, and the researchers analyzed their health records for nearly seven years to monitor for cancer.
The study found that even non-exercisers can benefit from short bursts of high-intensity activity throughout the day. Participants who engaged in around 3.5 minutes of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) each day reduced their overall cancer risk by about 18%. And as the duration of activity increased, the cancer protection also increased, particularly for physical activity-related cancers such as breast, lung, and colon cancers.
The researchers emphasized that any type of physical activity counts, and that not all physical activity needs to be structured exercise. Simply incorporating short bursts of intense activity into daily activities like taking the stairs, carrying heavy grocery bags, or playing actively with kids or pets can provide health benefits.
The study also highlighted that short bursts of activity can improve insulin resistance and reduce chronic inflammation, both of which are major cancer risks. The momentary increases in heart rate and breathlessness during these bursts of activity indicate that they are intense enough to contribute to health improvement.
However, it’s important to understand that these findings should not be seen as an excuse for active individuals to give up on exercise. Regular exercise has numerous health benefits beyond cancer prevention. This study focused on individuals who don’t typically exercise, and it is likely that people who exercise regularly would have even lower cancer risks.
It is worth noting that this study is observational and does not establish a definite cause-and-effect relationship between short bursts of activity and cancer risk reduction. However, other studies have shown that increasing physical activity further decreases the risk of cancer, suggesting that more activity is beneficial.
Overall, this study suggests that incorporating short bursts of vigorous activity into daily routines can be an effective strategy to reduce cancer risk, especially for those who struggle to initiate or adhere to structured exercise programs. It highlights the importance of movement throughout the day and provides a good starting point for individuals who want to increase their daily activity levels.
Key Points:
– Short bursts of vigorous physical activity during everyday activities can lower the risk of cancer.
– Participants who engaged in around 3.5 minutes of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity each day reduced their overall cancer risk by about 18%.
– The duration of activity is directly proportional to the cancer protection, especially for physical activity-related cancers.
– Any type of physical activity counts, and not all physical activity needs to be structured exercise.
– Short bursts of activity can improve insulin resistance and reduce chronic inflammation, which are major cancer risks.
– Regular exercise is still important, and these findings should not be an excuse for active individuals to give up on exercise.
– Increasing physical activity further decreases the risk of cancer, suggesting that more activity is beneficial.
– Incorporating short bursts of vigorous activity into daily routines can be an effective strategy to reduce cancer risk, especially for those who struggle with structured exercise programs.
Source Article: https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/exercise-bursts-short/2023/08/01/id/1129235/
