Moving actively at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. reduces colon cancer risk by 11%

When is your most active time during the day?

For those who are returning to work, during the evening after work?

Mothers with children at home, in the morning hours?

I am also most active and productive from early morning until before midnight.

I brought you something I found interesting.

A study has shown that being more active in the morning and evening can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 11%. Specifically, it is at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

This study suggests that reaching activity peaks at specific times of the day may play an important role in preventing colon cancer.

Researchers at the University of Regensburg in Germany utilized UK Biobank data for a study published in the journal BMC Medicine. They tracked the physical activity of 86,252 individuals aged 42 to 79 who wore accelerometers on their wrists over a period of 5.3 years. During this time, 529 cases of colon cancer were diagnosed.

Researchers classified participants into four groups based on the times of day when their activity levels were concentrated. These include continuous activity throughout the day, late-night activity, activity in the morning and evening, and activity during midday and nighttime.

According to research, reaching two activity peaks around 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. not only benefits overall physical activity but is also associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. People who were actively engaged during these times had an 11% lower risk of colon cancer. The risk reduction for those who were continuously active throughout the day was 6%, while those primarily active during midday and nighttime showed no change. Data on individuals who were mainly active only in the late hours of the day were insufficient to draw conclusions.

Even after considering other factors that could influence an individual's cancer risk, such as smoking and shift work, these results consistently appeared.

Professor Michael Reitzman, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the University of Regensburg who led this study, said, "Our research emphasizes that physical activity is not only important in reducing the risk of colon cancer but also that the peak times of physical activity during the day may play a significant role."