Physical activity and cancer: what’s the risk?

Our Expert Report found evidence that being physically active can help protect against a variety of cancers, including bowel cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer and endometrial cancer.

How can physical activity reduce your cancer risk?

Scientists are still investigating exactly how physical activity helps to prevent cancer. Current research has identified the following biological effects of physical activity that seem to play a role.

Reducing body fat

Extra fat around the waist can act like a hormone 'pump' and raise levels of oestrogen and other substances in the blood, which increase cancer risk. Being overweight can also cause inflammation, another risk factor for cancer.

Boosting your immune system

Some studies show that exercise increases the ability of cells to 'fight off' disease
more efficiently.

Moving food through the digestive system quickly

This reduces the exposure of cells lining the bowel to potentially cancer-causing substances, possibly lowering bowel cancer risk.

How can physical activity reduce your risk of other diseases?

As well as helping to prevent cancer, your risk of developing many health conditions can be reduced by being physically active every day. Among the diseases you can take steps to avoid are:

• heart disease
• stroke
• osteoporosis
• Type 2 diabetes
• obesity
• cognitive decline and dementia
• depression

Research has found that physical activity lowers the risk of developing these health conditions because it:

• lowers blood pressure
• raises levels of ‘good’ cholesterol and lowers levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol
• helps control blood sugar
• increases bone density
• increases brain function
• improves mood

Who can benefit?

Anyone at any age can benefit. It’s never too late (or too early!) to become more physically active. Research has shown that even if you are over 70 years old, you can still extend your life expectancy and quality of life by becoming more physically active.

For more information on the link between physical activity and cancer, including tips for how to build more physical activity into your life, download our free publication Moving More for Cancer Prevention.