Research
Large study examines lifestyle and cancer risk
An analysis of around 288,000 people finds associations across several cancer types. The observational data cannot determine an individual’s risk.
A study published on 15 September 2026 analysed UK Biobank data. It considered smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, exercise and body weight together. A higher lifestyle score was associated with a lower risk for 13 of the 27 cancer types examined.
Participants were followed for a median of 11.5 years. The study identifies statistical associations but cannot prove causation. Much of the information was self-reported, and UK Biobank participants do not fully represent the general population. The findings therefore cannot explain why an individual develops cancer.
Sources
- Healthy lifestyle and cancer risk: a pan-cancer analysis in the UK Biobank prospective cohort (opens in a new tab) · Springer Nature — Original research · Accessed on
- Gesunder Lebensstil – geringeres Krebsrisiko: Große Studie bestätigt und erweitert Zusammenhang für zahlreiche Krebsarten (opens in a new tab) · Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) · Accessed on