International Study: 1 Extra Hour of Sedentary Time Daily Increases Cancer Mortality Risk by 10%

(CNA Taipei, July 4) Prolonged sitting not only causes backaches but may also increase cancer risk. A latest international study found that adding one hour of continuous sedentary behavior daily increases cancer mortality risk by 10%; switching to physical activity could reduce the risk by up to 22%, depending on the duration or intensity.

A research team from the UK and Australia published a study on July 3, Taiwan time, in the international journal "PLOS Medicine." They analyzed data from 91,292 participants in the UK Biobank, tracking them for 11 to 13 years to investigate the relationship between prolonged sitting and cancer incidence and mortality.

For Taiwanese people, "sedentary behavior" is a common lifestyle for students, office workers, and the elderly. The study found that for every additional hour of sedentary time per day, the risk of cancer death increased by 10%. Conversely, replacing sedentary time with intermittent sedentary behavior daily reduced the cancer mortality risk by 19%. Furthermore, substituting sedentary time with physical activity showed that one hour of light activity daily reduced the risk by 12%; 30 minutes of moderate physical activity reduced the risk by 8%; and 5 minutes of vigorous physical activity reduced the risk by 22%.

The Taiwan Science Media Center (SMC) recently invited Taiwanese experts to analyze the study. Liao Yung, a distinguished professor at the Graduate Institute of Sports, Recreation, and Hospitality Management at National Taiwan Normal University, stated that the study's participants were from the UK Biobank, and they might lean towards healthier individuals with higher socioeconomic status, potentially leading to a healthy volunteer bias, and differing from Taiwan's environment and population.

However, Liao Yung believes the study's use of objective wearable devices for measurement, coupled with long-term tracking to assess cancer incidence and mortality risks, holds considerable reference value.

Liao Yung pointed out that studies have consistently indicated that prolonged sedentary behavior is associated with higher risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and all-cause mortality. Particularly, accumulating large amounts of static time daily, such as prolonged sitting, reclining, or lying down with little to no movement or interruption, may carry even higher health risks.

Therefore, this study reminds the public that daily health promotion should not only focus on "whether one exercises" but also on the health risks that "sedentary behavior" may bring. Liao Yung suggests that the general public can reduce their overall daily sedentary time. For example, adopting standing desks for part of their work hours, incorporating standing or light activities while watching TV or binge-watching shows, and choosing more active commuting methods like walking or cycling U-Bike can all help reduce overall sedentary time. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150704

Stand with facts, your every donation is a force to protect press freedom.

Download the CNA "First News" APP to get the latest news in real-time.

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.