Morning and evening exercise may lower bowel cancer risk by 11%: Study

A new study suggests that engaging in physical activity during the early morning and late evening could help lower the risk of bowel cancer by 11%. Conducted by experts from the University of Regensburg, Germany, the research points to the timing of peak physical activity as a potentially crucial factor in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.

The study, published in BMC Medicine, utilized data from the UK Biobank and tracked the activity of 86,252 participants, aged 42 to 79, over several years. Participants wore accelerometers on their wrists, which allowed researchers to monitor patterns of movement throughout the day. During the five-year follow-up period, 529 individuals developed bowel cancer, offering insights into how physical activity may influence cancer risk.

Researchers observed that participants displayed four distinct activity patterns: sustained daylong activity, activity predominantly in the evening, activity concentrated in the morning and evening, and activity primarily during midday and night.

Findings indicated that individuals who were active both in the early morning around 8 a.m. and in the late evening around 6 p.m. showed the greatest reduction in colorectal cancer risk, with an 11% lower risk compared to those who maintained activity throughout the day, which correlated with a 6% lower risk.

These findings underscore the potential impact of targeted activity times on cancer prevention, beyond the overall benefits of physical activity. The study found that those who were active at midday and night did not experience a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, while data from those who were active only in the evening remained inconclusive.

The research accounted for other risk factors, including smoking habits, shift work, and additional lifestyle variables that might influence cancer risk. This comprehensive analysis highlights how timing might play an integral role in shaping cancer prevention strategies, potentially paving the way for more precise guidelines around when physical activity is most effective in reducing cancer risks.

As bowel cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers globally, these findings hold significant implications for public health and cancer prevention. Physical activity is already recognized as beneficial in lowering cancer risks, but this study highlights that adjusting activity patterns to specific times of day may enhance its protective effect.