Walking briskly may reduce lung cancer risk

A research team from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has found a association between walking speed and cancer riskwhich can reduce the risk of lung tumors by up to 50%.

The researchers discovered that People who walk faster have a significantly lower overall risk of developing cancerparticularly lung cancer. This association held regardless of whether walking speed was self-reported or objectively measured.

This large-scale prospective cohort study, published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscleanalyzed data from more than 430,000 participants from the UK Biobank and validated the findings in a Hong Kong cohort. The results suggest that the ride qualityspecifically speed, could offer greater preventive value than the quantity. Walking speed could serve as a simple indicator of cancer risk, facilitating the development of personalized prevention strategies.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwidewith almost 20 million new cases diagnosed every year. The current guidelines of the American Cancer Society recommend the regular physical activity and muscle strengthening exercises to help prevent cancer. Walking, the most common and accessible form of physical activity, has been a key element in health promotion.

Previous studies have focused mainly on the relationship between duration and frequency of walking with cancer incidence and mortality. However, walking speed, often considered a vital sign of overall health, has received less attention in oncology research.

According to the teacher Cheung Ching-lungassociate professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at HKUMed, Walking speed is a quick and reliable measure of physical function and has been associated with age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, as well as mortality. Recent research also suggests that the Skeletal muscle plays a role in regulating inflammatory and metabolic pathwayswhich could help explain the biological link between walking speed and cancer risk.

Up to 53% lower risk of lung cancer

HKUMed researchers examined the link between walking speed and cancer risk using two approaches different: participants from the United Kingdom they reported themselves their walking pace, while those in Hong Kong underwent a timed walking test of six meters. The findings showed that fast walkers in the UK had a 13% lower overall risk of developing cancer, while those in Hong Kong had a 45% decrease.

The most significant drop was observed in lung cancerwith a risk drop of up to 53%suggesting that walking faster may help protect the respiratory system and reduce the risk of cancer. Additional mediation analysis revealed that approximately a quarter of this protective effect could be attributed to lower levels of inflammatory markers (such as C-reactive protein and white blood cell count) and better indicators of lipid metabolism (including total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol) among fast walkers. These factors contribute to reducing the risk of cancer.

“These findings provide healthcare professionals with Practical and easy-to-assess tool to identify people at increased risk of cancer —highlights Professor Cheung Ching-lung—. Our research suggests that the health benefits of walking are not limited to distance, but also speed. These results support public health initiatives to encourage people to walk with determination and energy, and highlight the importance of Incorporate walking into comprehensive cancer prevention strategies“.

Although the study was observational, its large sample size and the long follow-up periods (a median of 10.9 years for the UK cohort and 6.9 years for the Hong Kong group) lend great credibility to the findings. The consistency of the results in ethnically diverse populations It further strengthens the scientific basis for using walking speed as a meaningful health indicator.

“Walking speed could be an important marker of physiological resilience related to the risk of cancer,” says Professor Cheung. The lower levels of inflammation and healthier lipid profiles observed among fast walkers support the hypothesis that they may have a better overall health“.

“This makes walking speed a simple but effective tool for assessing health status. The study also opens new avenues for future research, such as explore whether walking faster could help cancer patients recover better and reduce the risk of developing cancer“he concludes.