Being active in the early morning and evening can ‘reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 11%’

Researchers from the University of Regensburg in Germany have found that physical activity in the early morning and evening may play an important role in preventing bowel cancer.

For the study, the researchers used data from the UK Biobank to evaluate 86,252 people aged 42 to 79 who tracked their physical activity using an accelerometer. The researchers identified four types of activity: constant daytime activity, activity in the late afternoon, morning and evening, and activity in the middle of the day and at night. During the five years of observation, approximately 529 cases of colon cancer were recorded.

The study found that people who exercised both morning and evening had an 11% lower risk of colorectal cancer, while those who exercised only during the day had an 11% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer. decreased by 6%. For the group that was active only during the middle of the day and at night, there was no change in risk.

“Our study highlights that not only is physical activity important for reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, but also the timing of peak activity during the day may play a critical role. By identifying the specific times—early morning and late evening—when physical activity is most beneficial, our findings reveal new opportunities for the development of targeted prevention strategies,” said Dr. Michael Leitzmann, who led the study.