Prolonged sitting without breaks significantly increases the risk of developing cancer, researchers have found. Each additional hour of a sedentary lifestyle raises the likelihood of dying from cancer by 9 percent, reports infohub.kz.
Scientists at the University of Glasgow, led by Frederick Ho, analyzed data from more than 91,000 adult participants in the UK Biobank. The findings, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, showed that not only the total time spent sitting but also its continuity affects cancer risk.
The researchers established that each additional hour of uninterrupted sitting increases the risk of cancer death by 9%. Moreover, such a lifestyle is linked to a higher incidence of cancers associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, including malignant tumors of the liver, pancreas, and breast.
However, simple short breaks can significantly reduce the risks. Replacing just one hour of continuous sitting per day with light physical activity decreases the likelihood of dying from cancer by 12%. The authors emphasize the importance of staying active throughout the day.