Moving More for Your Health

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The WCRF/AICR Second Expert Report: Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective published by WCRF and other members of the WCRF global network found a direct connection between cancer and physical activity. There is convincing evidence that being physically active every day lowers the risk of colorectal cancer - the second most common cancer in Hong Kong. There is also probable evidence that physical activity helps protect us from endometrial cancer and postmenopausal breast cancer.

Other than offering “direct” protection from cancer, physical activity also plays a key role in helping us manage our weight and therefore, reduces our cancer risk.

Other benefits of physical activity:

Apart from reducing our cancer risk, being physically active every day also helps to prevent:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression
• Cognitive decline and dementia
• Obesity, which is closely linked to six cancers: cancer of oesophagus, pancreas, colorectum, kidney, endometrium (womb) and breast (in postmenopausal women)

Moving more every day also helps with the following health conditions:

• lowers blood pressure
• raises levels of “good” cholesterol and lowers levels of “bad” cholesterol
• helps control blood sugar
• improves mood
• improves balance for day-to-day activities
• increases brain function
• eases symptoms of arthritis
• increases bone density

What is physical activity?

Physical activity is not limited to the exercise you do at the gym or in a fitness class – taking the stairs, walking to the post box, lifting boxes at work, sweeping the floor all count as physical activity.

To be more physically active, WCRF HK recommends the following:

• Be moderately active, equivalent to brisk walking, for 30 minutes every day
• As fitness improves, aim for 60 minutes or more of moderate, and 30 minutes of more vigorous, physical activity every day
• Limit sedentary habits such as watching television

What are you waiting for? Sign up now and have lots of fun on Move More Day on 30 June!

Join our Fruity Friday too on 24 June to develop a “fruity” and healthy eating habit in your office!

Return to the Move More Day index page.