Health scare of the week: How chairs cause cancer
The American Institute of Cancer Research says it’s crucial for adults get up and move at least once an hour.
Sitting still for long stretches of time—at work, in the car, or at home—increases your cancer risk, even if you exercise regularly, WebMD.com reports. New research shows that as many as 49,000 cases of breast cancer and 43,000 cases of colon cancer could be prevented in the U.S. each year if people simply stood up more often. “It seems highly likely that the longer you sit, the higher your risk,” says Neville Owen, a researcher at Australia’s Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, but “even breaks as short as one minute” can lower it. The research supports a previous 14-year study that found that six hours of sitting a day increased a woman’s odds of dying in that period by 37 percent, and a man’s by 18 percent, compared with people who sat for half that time.
Adults today are immobile for more than nine hours a day on average. Even if you hit the gym, the American Institute of Cancer Research now says, it’s crucial that you get up and move at least once an hour—by pacing during phone calls, visiting the water cooler, or going to talk to a colleague in person instead of sending an email.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
6 scenic white water rafting destinations to get your heart racing
The Week Recommends Have a rip-roaring time on the water
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Dangerous substances in Lunchables are raising concerns over children's health
In the Spotlight High levels of lead and sodium were recently found in the snack packages
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Fired art
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Why the Y chromosome is vanishing and what this means for the future
The Explainer A new sex gene could be on the evolution pipeline
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
13 recent scientific breakthroughs
In Depth From photos of the infant universe to an energy advancement that could save the planet
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Antimatter isn't immune to gravity, landmark experiment confirms
Speed Read Antimatter is the mysterious evil twin of matter, but new research proves they do have something fundamental in common
By Peter Weber Published
-
'Inverse vaccine' shows promise treating MS, other autoimmune diseases
New research effectively cured mice of multiple sclerosis–type symptoms. Could this work in humans?
By Peter Weber Published
-
Air pollution is now the 'greatest external threat' to life expectancy
Speed Read Climate change is worsening air quality globally, and there could be deadly consequences
By Devika Rao Published
-
How Antarctica has become the enduring climate change bellwether
The Explainer Despite its remote location, the southernmost continent is stricken with climate change issues
By Justin Klawans Published
-
NASA fully restores contact with Voyager 2 spacecraft
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Extremely dangerous heat wave' to scorch parts of US
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published