According to a recent study by the University of Sydney, Australia, engaging in a total of 4.5 minutes of vigorous activity each day can lower the risk of certain cancers by up to 32%.
This promising research, published in JAMA Oncology, tracked the daily activities of over 22,000 non-exercising individuals for nearly seven years.
VILPA: New Form of Physical Activity
The researchers dubbed these short, intense bursts of activity “Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity,” or VILPA, and equated this to applying High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) principles to daily life.
Examples of VILPA include vigorous housework, carrying heavy shopping, bursts of power walking, or playing high-energy games with children.
Wearable Technology Facilitates Groundbreaking Research
Wearable technology, such as activity trackers, played a crucial role in facilitating this research, allowing the scientists to monitor the impact of VILPA on individuals who typically avoid exercise.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, lead author of the study, stated that the increase in intensity of daily activities for as little as 4.5 minutes per day could reduce overall cancer risk by up to 18%, and up to 32% for cancers linked to physical activity.
Biological Explanation Behind VILPA’s Cancer-Fighting Capabilities
Although the study is observational, the team of researchers note the strong correlation between intermittent vigorous physical activity and lower cancer risk.
Early-stage trials have suggested that such physical activity leads to rapid improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness, which may biologically explain the reduction in cancer risk.
Increased insulin sensitivity and reduced chronic inflammation, both associated with physical activity, are other likely contributors to decreased cancer risk.
A New Approach to Cancer Prevention
This research highlights the potential for VILPA to be a cost-free method of lowering cancer risk, particularly for those who find structured exercise challenging or unappealing.
Future research will further investigate the link between VILPA and cancer risk.
Key Findings from the Study
Over an average follow-up period of 6.7 years, the study found that:
- Among the 22,398 non-exercisers in the sample, 2,356 new cancer events occurred.
- Approximately 3.5 minutes of daily VILPA was associated with up to an 18% reduction in cancer incidence.
- About 4.5 minutes of daily VILPA led to up to a 32% reduction in incidence of cancers related to physical activity.
- The most significant reductions in cancer risk were seen in individuals who engaged in small amounts of VILPA compared to those who did none.
These results underscore the vast potential of wearable technology in tracking physical activity and enhancing our understanding of how lifestyle factors can impact long-term health, especially in relation to cancer prevention.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that coffee drinkers may halve their risk of liver cancer, and green Mediterranean diet could cut fatty liver disease by half.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.
The study was published in JAMA Oncology.
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