New research suggests that sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time could increase the risk of dying from cancer. The study, which tracked over 90,000 people for a decade, found that prolonged periods of inactivity were associated with higher cancer mortality. However, breaking up sedentary time with light activity, such as ironing or a short walk, may mitigate these risks.
Researchers from the University of Glasgow analysed data from wearable devices worn by UK Biobank participants. They discovered that each additional hour of continuous sitting per day was linked to a 10% increase in the risk of cancer death. The findings were published in the journal Plos Medicine.
Dr Frederick Ho, the lead author, said: “What our data shows is that sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time is particularly linked to a higher risk of cancer. The good news is that breaking up your sitting time with something as simple as a short walk could be protective.” He added that light movement should not be overlooked, even though current guidelines focus on moderate to vigorous exercise.
The study found that replacing one hour of sedentary behaviour each day with light physical activity, like ironing or washing up, was associated with a 12% lower risk of cancer death. Substituting 30 minutes of inactivity with moderate activity, such as walking at an average pace, reduced the risk by 8%. Even five minutes of vigorous activity per day instead of sitting was linked to a 22% lower risk.
The researchers noted that the study was observational and could not prove causation. Prof Kevin McConway of the Open University, who was not involved, said the findings were interesting but required further research.
