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Updated: Sep 19, 2025
05:59
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
6.8K
Changes in Physical Activity and Risk of Cancer, Findings from the UK Biobank Study
Andrew Harper1, Christine M Friedenreich1,2,3, Momtafin Khan1
1Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada.
Summary
Increasing physical activity in midlife may lower obesity-related cancer risk, especially for breast cancer. Behavioral changes to boost physical activity can help reduce cancer risk.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Oncology
Background:
- Most physical activity and cancer risk studies use single-time measures.
- This analysis examines how midlife physical activity changes impact cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between changes in physical activity during midlife and subsequent cancer risk.
- To explore associations by sex and cancer type (obesity-related vs. nonobesity-related, breast, prostate).
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of UK Biobank participants (≥40 years) with repeated physical activity data (International Physical Activity Questionnaire).
- Physical activity changes classified as decreased, maintained, or increased.
- Multivariable Cox regression analysis to assess cancer risk associations.
Main Results:
- No significant association between physical activity changes and overall cancer risk.
- Increased physical activity linked to lower obesity-related cancer risk (HR=0.72), particularly breast cancer (HR=0.61).
- Decreased physical activity in females associated with elevated cancer risk (HR=1.47).
Conclusions:
- Increasing physical activity over time is associated with reduced risk of obesity-related cancers, notably breast cancer.
- Behavioral interventions promoting increased physical activity in midlife may be beneficial for cancer risk reduction.
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