Walking could help prevent cancer: Research

Health experts have long recommended people be physically active to maintain a healthy weight and reduce their risk of all cancers. File photo: N. Sridharan

Cancer researchers say around 10,000 cases of breast and bowel cancer could be avoided every year in Britain if people walked more.

Health experts have long recommended people be physically active to maintain a healthy weight and reduce their risk of all cancers. Physical activity is believed to reduce cancer risk in ways such as impacting hormone levels.

A World Cancer Research Fund statement Tuesday said that its scientists estimated about 4,600 bowel cancer cases and 5,000 breast cancer cases could be prevented in the United Kingdom if people were more active, such as by walking.

In Europe, being obese or overweight accounts for about 8 percent of cancers.