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News
A large UK Biobank study of nearly 288,000 people found that sticking to four or five healthy lifestyle habits — like not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, staying active, and limiting alcohol — slashed overall cancer risk by 29%. The benefits extended across 13 cancer types, with the biggest gains seen for laryngeal, lung, and pharyngeal cancers. Smoking and excess weight were the biggest individual risk factors.
A large UK Biobank study tracking nearly 288,000 adults over a median of 11.5 years found that people who followed four or five healthy lifestyle behaviours — not smoking, limiting alcohol, eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, and maintaining a normal BMI — had a 29% lower overall cancer risk compared to those with poor lifestyle scores. The findings extend beyond well-known cancers to include less-studied types like soft tissue sarcoma and laryngeal cancer.
Smoking and excess weight emerged as the most impactful individual risk factors, with non-smoking alone linked to reduced risk across 12 cancer types. Normal BMI was protective against seven cancer types, including uterine, kidney, and oesophageal cancers.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings reinforce that modifiable lifestyle choices — especially quitting smoking and managing weight — can meaningfully reduce cancer risk across a wide range of tumour types, offering clinicians a powerful prevention message for patients.
