Researchers from the UK Biobank have identified that exercising around 8am and 6pm is linked to an 11% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer, beyond the general benefits of physical activity.

The research identified four distinct activity patterns: continuous day-long activity, late-day activity, morning and evening activity, and midday and night activity.

Early morning exercise is believed to help synchronize the body clock and enhance circadian rhythms, potentially leading to better health outcomes.

Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with approximately 44,000 new diagnoses each year.

The findings of the study remained significant even when accounting for other cancer risk factors such as smoking and shift work.

Professor Dr. Michael Leitzmann, the lead investigator, emphasized the importance of not just physical activity but also the timing of that activity in developing cancer prevention strategies.

Notably, those who exercised only at midday showed no change in risk, and data for late-day activity alone was inconclusive.

The study analyzed data from 86,252 participants aged 42 to 79, who tracked their physical activity using wrist-worn accelerometers over a follow-up period of more than five years.

During this follow-up, 529 cases of bowel cancer were recorded among the participants, underscoring the disease's prevalence.

Dr. Helen Croker from the World Cancer Research Fund highlighted that these findings support the role of physical activity in cancer prevention and suggest the need for more specific exercise recommendations.

Experts encourage incorporating even short periods of vigorous activity into daily routines, as it can significantly reduce cancer risk.

The rising rates of colorectal cancer among adults under 50 since the 1990s indicate a growing concern for younger populations.