A study led by the University of Sydney, Australia and published in the medical journal JAMA Oncology reveals that by devoting only 4 or 5 minutes a day to a physical activity intense, it is possible to reduce up to 32% risk of developing certain types of cancer. This discovery highlights the importance of regular physical exercise, even in the form of short sessions.
“It can be things like playing with children”
To conduct the study, the researchers used data from wearable devices designed to monitor the daily activity of more than 22,000 people, with an average age of 62 and considered “non-athletic”. Thereafter, they carefully followed the clinical health records of this group for a period of almost seven years in order to monitor the incidence of cancer.
This study demonstrated the effect beneficial very short periods of vigorous, intermittent physical activity, also known by the acronym “VILPA” (for Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity). The concept of VILPA was formulated by researchers at the Charles Perkins Center at the University of Sydney to describe the brief sequences of physical activity, lasting around one minute each, that we perform in our daily lives. This encompasses activities such as housework intense, carrying heavy purchases during errands, brisk walking sessions and energetic games with the children. This method takes into account the daily life of any person. Because several activities or tasks that we practice in our daily lives can be likened to a session of physical activity.
Professor at University College London and co-author of the study, Mark Hamer, explains to the English newspaper Tea Guardian : “It can be things like playing with children. You may see your bus about to leave and have to walk very fast to catch it. You may also live in an apartment building and have to to go upstairs with your shopping. These are the kind of little bursts that happen in everyday life“.
“An increase in the intensity of daily tasks is associated with a significant reduction of up to 32% in the risk of cancer…”
Emmanuel Stamatakis informs that the majority of middle-aged people do not regularly practicephysical exerciseputting them at increased risk of cancer.
The researcher highlights the results of the study: “It is remarkable that even by slightly increasing the intensity of daily tasks for as little as four to five minutes per day, distributed in short bursts of about one minute each, it is possible to observe a reduction overall cancer risk up to 18%. This improvement is even more significant, reaching up to 32%, for cancer types specifically linked tophysical activity.”
He concludes by explaining that incorporating more vigorous activity into our daily lives is very simple: “Increasing the intensity of daily activities requires no time commitment, preparation, club memberships or special skills. It is enough simply topick up the pace when walking or doing housework with a little more energye”. These small energetic actions can make a real difference to our health, without the need for major constraints.
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