Combining a smaller waist with staying active can cut cancer risk

A combination of physical activity and controlling waistlines is far more effective in reducing the risk of cancer than doing just one or the other according to a study funded by the World Cancer Research Fund. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine looked at more than 300,000 people and found that:

• Individuals not meeting the World Health Organisation guidelines on waist circumference are at 11% greater risk even if they are physically active.

• Those not meeting the World Health Organisation guidelines for physical activity are at 4% greater risk, even if they are abdominally lean.

• Achieving neither of these can increase the risk by 15%.