Hitting the trails could pay dividends: Runners are two-thirds less likely to develop kidney cancer, according to a new study from the University of California at Berkeley.
Researchers analyzed more than 90,000 runners and walkers through national surveys for 5 to 7 years and found the most active group—runners who logged at least 15 miles a week—cut their risk for developing kidney cancer by 76 percent. Even 10 miles a week was enough to slash cancer risk by 61 percent, compared to inactive people.
It makes sense: “Runners, as a group, typically have healthier habits and diet,” says Larry I. Lipshultz, M.D., a professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine. “This healthy lifestyle that is often a by-product of being active helps lower your risk for all diseases, including cancer.”
Don’t run? Don’t worry. To gauge activity level, the researchers didn’t actually go by miles logged, but instead used a measure called METs, which gives activities a value in relation to how much energy you expend doing something versus sitting still. So whether you bike, row, or swim, moving for at least 8 hours a week can cut your risk of kidney cancer by over half, the study says.
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