The Cancer Council, in conjunction with the Victorian government, has just released an informative study about the importance of exercise in reducing cancer risk. Their new research estimates that more than three times as many cancers are attributable to physical inactivity than previously thought.

The cancers that were linked to physical inactivity were: breast, colon, bladder, endometrial, kidney, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck, myeloma, myeloid leukaemia, liver, and gallbladder.

Associate Professor Brigid Lynch, senior author of the paper, said the findings provide a contemporary understanding of the cancer burden due to physical inactivity.
“We now know being physically active reduces the risk of 13 types of cancer. This new research highlights the number of individual cancer diagnoses that could have been prevented if Australians were better supported to integrate regular physical activity into their day.”

The news article also goes onto say that “Australia is a nation proud of its health system, yet we don’t have a physical activity plan or coordinated national physical activity strategy. Combined with changes in food supply, eating behaviours, a rise in convenience and ultra-processed foods, we are living in environments that do not promote healthy lifestyles.”

The news item from the Cancer Council can be accessed HERE.