New Study Shows Just Four Minutes of Vigorous Activity Can Reduce Cancer Risk
According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, even just four minutes of vigorous intermittent physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer. The study, conducted by researchers from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands, has gained worldwide attention for its findings.
The study involved 22,398 non-exercising adults from the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database. The participants were given wrist accelerometers to measure their physical activity but were not given any specific instructions other than to go about their daily lives. The participants were followed for about six years.
The findings of the study revealed that engaging in vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) for just a few minutes a day was associated with a significant reduction in cancer risk. A minimum of three and a half minutes of VILPA was found to be associated with a 17% to 18% reduction in total incident cancer risk compared to no VILPA. A median daily VILPA of 4.5 minutes was associated with a 31% to 32% reduction in the incidence of cancers linked to physical activity levels, including colon, breast, bladder, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, and stomach cancers.
Prof. Ora Paltiel of the Hebrew University’s Braun School of Public Health and the Department of Hematology at Hadassah Medical Center commented on the study, stating that while it has limitations, it is a good proof of concept study that shows doing something is better than doing nothing.
Despite reservations about the study’s limitations, both Prof. Paltiel and Prof. Aron Popovtzer, head of Hadassah’s oncology department, believe that the study’s results are positive and reinforce the widely held theories about the relationship between exercise and disease risk reduction.
Prof. Popovtzer suggested that getting cells moving and increasing blood flow and free radicals can help prevent cancer. He also emphasized the importance of not letting fat stagnate in one place in the body, as it is known to be related to cancer.
However, both experts caution against interpreting the study’s findings as an indication that just four minutes of exercise a day will prevent cancer. They stress that exercise is just one factor among many that contribute to a person’s overall health and risk of developing cancer.
The focus should be on the positive message of the study, which is that even minimal amounts of physical activity can still have a significant impact on reducing one’s risk of cancer. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking short distances instead of taking the bus, or parking farther away and walking can all be simple ways to incorporate more physical activity into daily life.
In conclusion, this study provides further evidence that physical activity, even in small doses, is beneficial for reducing the risk of cancer. It reinforces the importance of incorporating some form of exercise into one’s daily routine, regardless of the intensity or duration.