Keep moving - cut your cancer risk
Keeping active could help to prevent around 3,400 cases of cancer every year in the UK. Being physically active isn’t just good for your heart; there is lots of evidence that it can also reduce the risk of developing breast, bowel or womb cancer.
Being physically active, along with a healthy, balanced diet, can also help you manage your weight. Keeping to a healthy weight is another way to reduce the risk of developing cancer and other diseases. It is recommended that adults should aim to do at least 2½ hours of moderate activity every week.
Top tips on keeping active:
- You don’t have to do it all in one go. All the activity you do throughout the week add up. Just 10 minutes at a time can count.
- You can build up the amount of activity you do steadily over time.
- There’s no need to join a gym or train for a marathon, unless you want to.
- The more active you are, the greater the benefits you can gain.
Activity doesn’t just mean sport and exercise. Anything that makes you a bit warmer and slightly out of breath counts as moderate activity, including:
- Cycling
- Brisk walking
- Heavy gardening
- Washing the car
- Dancing
Find out more ideas and tips on getting active for you and your family at Change4Life.
Studies show that once we make healthy behaviour a habit, it’s much easier to stick to it in the long term. To help you form healthy habits, try linking activity to a particular point in your day, like regularly walking to the station or bus stop in the morning, or meeting friends for a walk in the evening. Once you’ve set a goal, tell others about it. They can help you stick to your plans, keep you motivated, or even keep you company if you’re going for a walk, jog or cycle ride. Visit NHS Choices for ideas on how to fit physical activity into a busy schedule.