Physical activity lowers risk of contracting diseases, shows WHO study

Chores such as gardening could significantly lower the risk of contracting breast cancer, a study has shown.

The physical activities could also reduce the risk of bowel cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

The study, done by World Health Organsiation (WHO) and released last week, revealed that higher levels of physical activity can substantially lower the risk of the diseases.

According to WHO, for better results, physical activity should be between five to seven times per week.

Currently, WHO recommends that people conduct at least 600 minutes of physical activity.

“This is equivalent of 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or 75 minutes of running,” says the study.

But the study suggested that most health gains were achieved when physical activities were done between 3,000 and 4,000 minutes a week.

“Each and every activity done counts and the only way to ensure that you remain active and physically fit, is to perform the actions daily,” said Dr Simon O’Neill, the director of health intelligence at Diabetes UK.

He said for people to make it a routine, they should identify the kind of activity they like doing including dancing or gardening to become part of their routine.

The lead author, Hmwe Kyu from the University of Washington, said climbing stairs for 10 minutes, gardening for 20 minutes, running for 20 minutes, and walking or cycling for transportation for 25 minutes, on a daily basis would make a great change in ones life.

Moreover, physical inactivity is estimated to be the main cause of approximately 21 to 25 per cent of breast and colon cancers, 27 per cent of diabetes and approximately 30 per cent of ischaemic heart disease burden.

Globally, according to WHO, one in four adults is not active enough.