A 2-Minute Break To Protect Yourself From Cancer

The American Institute  for Cancer Research says that inactivity is responsible for almost 100,000 cancer cases in the U.S. every year.  So as you read this blog, if you realize that you’ve been sitting in front of your computer for an hour, get up and take a one-to two-minute “activity break” to reduce your cancer risk.  (But finish reading this post first!  I’ll be brief!)

In conjunction with its Annual Research Conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer in Washington, AICR will hold a news conference on Thursday where experts will present new, evidence-based estimates that inactivity is responsible for almost 100,000 cancer cases in the U.S. every year. In response, AICR will also call on adult Americans to take 1-2 minute activity breaks every hour to reduce their cancer risk.

Christine Friedenreich, Ph.D., Senior Research Epidemiologist Associate, Alberta Health Services-Cancer Care in Canada, will summarize new evidence of the protective link between physical activity and certain cancers.


Neville Owen, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Epidemiology at Australia’s Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, will present research from the emerging field of sedentary behavior, including new findings on what happens in the body during prolonged periods of sitting.  (Yikes! this CAN’T be good!)