Daily physical activity lowers cancer risk in UK adults

A new study involving over 85,000 adults in the UK suggests that daily light and moderate exercise can lower the risk of cancer. Conducted by the National Institutes of Health and University of Oxford, the findings highlight activities like walking errands and doing chores. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on March 26, 2025, this research marks a significant step in understanding how everyday physical activities impact cancer risk. Previous studies often relied on self-reports, which may underestimate the benefits of lighter activities. In this study, participants wore wrist accelerometers to track their activity levels. An average follow-up period of nearly six years revealed that those with higher daily activity had a 26% lower cancer risk. Replacing sedentary time with light or moderate activity further reduced risk. The study also found that increasing daily steps lowered cancer risk significantly. Taking 5,000 steps per day correlated with a certain risk level, while 7,000 and 9,000 steps reduced the risk by 11% and 16%, respectively. Beyond 9,000 steps, the benefits plateaued, suggesting that even modest walking can be beneficial.