Long daily sitting linked to higher cancer death risk in UK study

LONDON — Prolonged uninterrupted sitting is associated with a higher risk of death from cancer, according to a study based on data from the UK Biobank project. Researchers tracked 91,292 participants for seven days using physical activity monitors and followed them for an average of 12.4 years. The analysis found that each additional hour of uninterrupted sitting raised the risk of cancer-related death by 9 percent. The elevated risk was most pronounced for cancers linked to obesity — including those of the esophagus, liver, kidney, pancreas, colon, breast, ovary and thyroid — as well as for cancers associated with type 2 diabetes. Replacing one hour of daily sitting with light physical activity lowered the cancer mortality risk by 12 percent, the study found. The researchers said the results do not establish a direct causal link but reinforce existing evidence on the health effects of prolonged sedentary behavior. The authors recommended that reducing sitting time and incorporating regular movement be considered part of cancer prevention strategies. No further details on next steps were immediately available.