Overview

• A large UK study of over 85,000 participants found that walking 5,000 or more steps daily reduces cancer risk, with optimal benefits at 7,000–9,000 steps.
• At 7,000 steps, cancer risk decreased by 11%, and at 9,000 steps, the risk dropped by 16%, with no additional benefit beyond this range.
• The study analyzed 13 cancers, including breast, colon, lung, and liver, with the strongest risk reductions observed for six types, such as gastric and bladder cancers.
• Researchers emphasized that total step count, not walking speed, drives the benefits, highlighting walking as an accessible preventive measure.
• Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the findings adjust for BMI, lifestyle, and demographics, isolating step count as a key factor.