Light Exercise Like Walking Linked To Lower Cancer Risk, New Study Reveals Daily Activity Counts

Regular physical activity can improve your flexibility and help with weight management, but the real cherry on top of being active daily is its positive effect on mental health.

Engaging in regular exercise for adults plays a crucial role in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases.

Also read: Can Fasting Do More Magic Than Weight Loss? Expert Explains Challenge, Transition, And Healing Phase

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that regular exercise can help prevent diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, enhance brain health, and improve overall well-being.

For children and adolescents, regular exercise can boost bone health, promote healthy growth, and improve motor and cognitive development, alongside supporting healthy muscle development.

Walking linked to lower cancer risk

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that even simple activities like walking can help lower cancer risk. In a cohort study of around 85,000 adults and researchers at the NIH and the University of Oxford found that “those who engaged in light- and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity daily physical activity had a lower risk of cancer than individuals who were more sedentary.”

Daily activity counts

The new findings suggest that the pace of steps is not as important as the number of steps taken. What played a crucial role was the total number of steps, which was associated with a lower risk of cancer.

When comparing physical activity levels, individuals who took 5,000 steps daily had an 11% lower cancer risk than those taking 7,000 steps, and a 16% lower risk for those taking 9,000 steps each day.

The study, originally published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on March 26, 2025, suggests that less active individuals should incorporate light exercise, such as walking at any pace, to reduce the risk of cancer.