Sedentary Lifestyle Ups Cancer Risk, Study Reveals

The Impact of Prolonged Sitting on Health

For many people, sitting is an integral part of their daily routine, be it at work, during a commute, or while relaxing at home. However, recent research suggests that the real health risk might not just be the act of sitting itself, but rather how long you sit without getting up. This applies even if you regularly engage in physical activity. So, it’s time to reconsider how you spend your day.

Active Lifestyles and Sedentary Behavior

Willie Mayberry, an active golfer, is a perfect example of incorporating movement into his day. He’s conscious of the potential health risks of a sedentary routine and takes extra measures to avoid it. “Even when I’m at the office, I have a desk that stands up, so I stand up as much as I can,” Mayberry shares. This highlights the importance of integrating movement into daily activities, regardless of your fitness regime.

Research on Sedentary Behavior and Increased Cancer Risk

Recent research indicates that a sedentary routine plays a significant role in increasing health risks. This new study, published in Plos Medicine, emphasizes this point. The lead author of the study, Dr. Frederick Ho, emphasizes the damaging nature of prolonged sitting.

The Findings of the Study

“What we found was that prolonged sitting or prolonged sedentary time is particularly harmful,” says Dr. Ho, a senior lecturer in public health at the University of Glasgow. The study involved monitoring more than 91,000 participants’ activity levels over seven days and tracking their health over 12 years. It found that each additional hour of uninterrupted sedentary behavior increases the risk of cancer death by 9%, with the most substantial association being Leukemia.

Interrupted Sedentary Time vs. Prolonged Sedentary Time

Key to the findings is that it’s not just the total amount of time spent sitting that’s important, but how that time is accrued. The study defines prolonged sedentary time as at least 30 minutes spent sitting, reclining, or lying down uninterrupted, differing from interrupted sedentary time where the sitting period is broken up with standing, walking, or other light movement.

Physical Activity Doesn’t Cancel Out the Risks of Prolonged Sitting

These findings aren’t just relevant for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, but also for individuals who meet physical activity guidelines but spend significant portions of their day sitting. Dr. Angela Fong, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology and a member of the Rogel Cancer Center, explains that even those who exercise regularly can still be at risk if they have long periods of inactivity.

Reducing the Risk: Breaking up Prolonged Sitting Periods

The main goal should be not only to sit less but to break up the periods of sitting throughout the day. The study found that replacing just one hour a day of prolonged sedentary behavior with light physical activity could reduce the risk of cancer death by 12%. The breaks don’t have to be lengthy or strenuous – standing during a phone call, walking to refill your water, or stretching during a TV break can all make a difference.

Taking Steps Towards an Active Lifestyle

Back on the golf course, golfer Rob Murri chooses to walk, making movement a part of his game as a way to counteract the rest of his day’s sedentary behavior. “Trying to stand up and move is more important to me than sitting in the cart. And it’s better for the game,” Murri shares, emphasizing the importance of integrating movement into as many daily activities as possible.