Study finds being active in the morning and evening may reduce risk of bowel cancer

According to the study, being more active in the morning and evening can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 11%.

The researchers suggest that identifying specific periods when physical activity is “most beneficial” could pave the way for targeted cancer prevention strategies.

The study, led by experts from the University of Regensburg, used data from the UK Biobank to evaluate 86,252 people aged 42 to 79 who tracked physical activity by wearing a wrist-mounted device known as an accelerometer.

During a follow-up period of 5.3 years, approximately 529 cases of bowel cancer occurred.

The researchers identified four patterns of activity; continuous daytime activity, activity at the end of the day, activity in the morning and evening, activity at noon and at night.

They found that two daily peaks of activity, around 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., “are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, above and beyond the benefits of general physical activity.”

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, can develop in any part of the colon, including the colon and rectum.

It is the fourth most common type of cancer in the UK, with an estimated 44,000 people – or around 120 a day – diagnosed with the disease each year.

Prof. Dr. Michael Leitzmann, head of the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Regensburg in Germany, was the lead investigator of the study published in BMC Medicine.

He said: “Our study highlights that not only is physical activity important for reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, but the timing of peak activity during the day may play a critical role.

“By identifying specific times—early morning and late afternoon—when physical activity is most beneficial, our findings open up new opportunities for targeted prevention strategies.

“If confirmed by future research, this could provide people with a simple but effective way to further reduce their risk of cancer through timing their exercise.”

Dr Helen Crocker, deputy director of research and policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, which funded the study, added: “Physical activity is one of our cancer prevention recommendations and we know it reduces the risk of developing cancer.

“These intriguing new findings open the potential for developing more specific recommendations, including patterns and timing of physical activity, to reduce cancer risk.”