Scientists find: Prolonged uninterrupted sitting increases the risk of dying from cancer

Scientists have found that every additional hour spent sitting without a break increases the risk of dying from cancer. Regularly interrupting periods of sitting with movement, by contrast, reduces this risk.

TodayPress TV reports that the findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS Medicine.

The harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle have long been known. However, scientists wanted to determine whether total sitting time or uninterrupted periods of sitting represented the more significant risk factor. To do this, they used objective data from wearable movement sensors rather than questionnaires.

Researchers led by Frederick Ho, an epidemiologist at the University of Glasgow, analysed data from more than 91,000 participants in the UK Biobank database. The participants’ health was monitored for approximately 12 years. The scientists separately accounted for uninterrupted sitting episodes lasting more than 30 minutes.

The study found that each additional hour of such prolonged uninterrupted sitting was associated with a 9% increase in cancer mortality. By contrast, each additional hour of sitting interrupted by movement was associated with an 18% reduction in the risk of dying from cancer. Replacing one hour of uninterrupted sitting with light physical activity reduced the risk by approximately 12%.

“Sitting continuously for more than 30 minutes is particularly associated with an increased risk of cancer. Interrupting sitting with a simple activity such as a short walk may have a protective effect,” Frederick Ho said.

According to the study’s authors, from a health perspective, it is important not only to reduce total sitting time, but also to regularly get up and move throughout the day.