Morning and evening stroll could cut bowel cancer risk

Researchers highlighted four activity patterns; continuous day-long activity, activity late in the day, activity in the morning and evening, and activity at midday and during the night.

They found two daily peaks in activity, at around 8am and 6pm, were “associated with reduced colorectal cancer risk, beyond the benefits of overall physical activity”. The activity could cut the cancer risk by a tenth, they found.

Bowel cancer – also known as colorectal cancer – can develop anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum.

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

Professor Dr Michael Leitzmann, chairman of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the University of Regensburg in Germany, was the lead investigator for the study, published in BMC Medicine.

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

“By identifying specific times – early morning and late day – when physical activity is most beneficial, our findings open new avenues for targeted prevention strategies.

“If confirmed by future research, this could provide a simple yet impactful way for individuals to further reduce their cancer risk through the timing of their exercise.”

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