Health Farm

-- Exercise increasingly important as the world emerges from lockdown

Since the pandemic began a year ago, growing numbers of people have reported gaining weight after cutting down on physical activity, while others say they have been eating more junk food.

As smoking cessation increases and more people stack on weight, obesity is set to overtake smoking as the leading cause of cancer in many industrialised nations.

Studies show that exercise may help cancer patients live longer – and lower the risk of developing cancer in first place. What’s more, cancer patients treated for primary tumours have a better chance of their cancers not returning if they exercise more often and improve their diets.

According to Cancer Research UK more than 135,000 cases of cancer – about four out of 10 British cases – could be prevented each year largely through lifestyle changes, with increased physical activity of any kind playing a key role.

The crucial point is that extra fat does not just sit quietly around our bodies. Researchers say fat is active, sending out signals to other organs and tissue which can affect growth, metabolism and reproductive cycles. These signals can tell cells to divide more often, which can lead to cancer.