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Understanding Bowel Cancer

Why is exercise so important

Regular exercise helps you to maintain a healthy body weight and makes you feel good. It can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by around 12% and can help recovery from illness. Being overweight, especially around the middle, could increase the risk. Losing weight could decrease your risk by 7%.

Ideally, try to do at least 30 minutes exercise every day. Try starting with 10 minutes and enjoy doing more and more. Exercise doesn't have to be about working out in a gym. Enjoy it!

These all count:

  • Taking the stairs
  • Walking to the shops
  • Doing the housework
  • Walking the dog
  • Getting off the bus a few stops earlier

 Take up a hobby:

  • Climbing
  • Dancing
  • Swimming
  • Walking
  • Cycling

Don't forget, if you miss a day don't give up, just start again tomorrow.

Last updated 18th January 2011