LONDON: Spending long periods sitting without getting up or moving around may be associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer, according to a medical study conducted in Scotland.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow analyzed health and activity data from more than 91,000 people in the UK Biobank. Participants’ physical activity was recorded over seven days using activity monitors, and their health outcomes were tracked for an average of 12.38 years.
The researchers divided participants into groups based on the amount of time they spent sitting and their levels of physical activity. They found that people who spent longer periods sitting and rarely moved had a 9% higher risk of dying from multiple types of cancer compared with those who were more active.
The study also found associations with cancers linked to obesity, including cancers of the oesophagus, liver, kidney, pancreas, breast, bowel and thyroid.
Small Movements May Make a Difference
Researchers reported that regularly standing up or moving around during periods of sitting was associated with a 12% lower risk of cancer death.
The findings add to previous research linking prolonged sedentary behavior with a range of health problems. Researchers said even light physical activity may provide some protection, although moderate-to-vigorous activity appears to offer greater health benefits.
However, the researchers acknowledged an important limitation: the study could not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between sitting for long periods and cancer mortality.
The findings were published in the journal PLOS Medicine, highlighting the potential health value of reducing prolonged periods of uninterrupted sitting and incorporating more movement into daily routines.