Title: Study Finds Just Four to Five Minutes of Vigorous Physical Activity Can Reduce Cancer Risk
By Melissa Rudy, Fox News | July 31, 2023 | 8:13am
New research suggests that participating in just four to five minutes of “vigorous physical activity” daily can significantly reduce the risk of cancer among individuals who have been generally inactive. The study, published in the journal JAMA Oncology, was conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia.
The study analyzed data from 22,398 non-exercising adults with an average age of 62. Participants wore activity trackers on their wrists for a period of seven days, and their cancer-related diagnoses, hospitalizations, and deaths were monitored over several years.
According to the findings, individuals who engaged in daily vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) for an average of 4.5 minutes per day experienced a 32% reduced risk of “physical activity-related cancer incidence.” This reduction included kidney, bladder, stomach, and lung cancers. For those who exercised 3.4 to 3.6 minutes per day, the risk of cancer was reduced by 17% to 18%.
The study excluded individuals with a previous cancer diagnosis. Factors such as age, BMI, heart disease history, sleep habits, diet, family cancer history, and smoking status were adjusted during the analysis.
Lead author Emmanuel Stamatakis, a professor at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, emphasized the importance of the study’s findings in relation to the majority of middle-aged individuals who do not regularly exercise. By incorporating short bursts of vigorous activity into daily tasks for as little as four to five minutes per day, the overall reduction in cancer risk can be up to 18%, and up to 32% for cancer types linked to physical activity.
VILPA, defined as brief and sporadic bouts of vigorous physical activity during daily living, includes activities such as climbing stairs, carrying heavy grocery bags, completing physical household tasks, walking fast, and playing high-energy games with children. Stamatakis compared VILPA to the principles of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) applied to everyday life.
While the study acknowledges limitations, including a predominantly White sample of participants and the observational nature of the research, Stamatakis encourages further investigation into this link through robust trials. He believes that VILPA has the potential to be a promising cost-free recommendation for lowering cancer risk among individuals who find structured exercise difficult or unappealing.
As wearable technology continues to advance, Stamatakis highlights the potential of tracking physical activity and understanding how unexplored aspects of life affect long-term health. The potential impact on cancer prevention and other health outcomes could be enormous.
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insight into the benefits of short bursts of vigorous physical activity in reducing the risk of cancer. Incorporating small doses of exercise into daily life can have a significant impact on long-term health outcomes and overall wellbeing.
(Note: This article is fictional and created for practice purposes.)