Small daily activity shifts linked to higher cancer risk, study finds

A UK Biobank analysis of 59,218 participants over eight years, published in BMC Medicine, finds that replacing daily movement with sedentary time (like sitting or watching TV) raises cancer risk; swapping 30 minutes of movement for 30 minutes of sedentary increases risk by about 8%, with similar risks seen when movement is replaced by sleep or light activity. The study reinforces maintaining an active lifestyle, alongside NHS guidance of at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week plus strength training.