This Mindless Habit Is Linked With An Increase In Cancer Risk — And You're Likely Guilty Of It

A study in PLOS Medicine tracked more than 91,000 adults using wrist monitors and followed them for a median of over 12 years, finding that prolonged sitting is linked to higher rates of several cancers, including breast, colorectal and liver, as well as higher cancer death rates. Breaking up sitting with movement, even brief walks or chores, corresponded with meaningfully lower cancer-death risk in the data.

Researchers note participants had higher baseline activity levels than the general UK population, and the study could not track what people were actually doing while sedentary. An outside physician summarized the takeaway simply: get up periodically, since even small interruptions appeared to matter.

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