The Deutsche Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ; German Cancer Research Centre), the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft (DKG; German Cancer Society) and Deutsche Krebshilfe (DKH, German Cancer Aid) organise a campaign week every year in September to draw attention to the potential of prevention. NAKO e.V. supports the National Cancer Prevention Week. Each year, National Cancer Prevention Week has a different focus. In 2024, the focus will be on exercise from 9-15 September.
Under the motto of this year’s National Cancer Prevention Week “Moving together – reducing the risk of cancer”, the organisers, partners and supporters – including the German National Cohort (NAKO) – want to draw attention to lack of exercise as a cancer risk factor and motivate people to be more physically active. This is because six out of every 100 cases of cancer can be attributed to a lack of exercise.
People who exercise every day can reduce their individual risk of cancer. In particular, the risk of some common types of cancer such as breast cancer (after the menopause) and bowel cancer can be reduced by 20 to 30 per cent through physical activity. There is also evidence that exercise can reduce the risk of other types of tumours, including cancer of the bladder and kidneys, stomach and oesophagus.
Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger: “Hiking, walking, swimming – it’s so easy to do something good for our health. Regular exercise can significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer. As the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, we are therefore focusing both on strengthening cancer research and cancer prevention with the National Decade Against Cancer. Everyone should know that you can make a difference with literally just a few steps.”
Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach: “Lack of exercise is not just an individual problem, but a growing risk factor for our entire society. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are just some of the challenges that show us how important regular exercise is. Physical activity can reduce the risk of developing cancer by an average of 20 to 30 per cent – a compelling reason to make exercise an integral part of our everyday lives. The Physical Activity Summit and the results of the “Round Table on Physical Activity and Health” were already promising steps in the right direction. However, it is crucial that we as politicians and society continue to pull together to promote preventative measures.”
“Regular exercise doesn’t have to be a competitive sport. Even everyday movements such as going for a walk or climbing stairs instead of taking the lift have a positive effect on physical health. Studies suggest that even very short units have a positive effect on health. Therefore, any short activity is better than no exercise. The important thing is that regular exercise becomes a habit.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Baumann, Chairman and Scientific Director of German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
The World Health Organisation recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. However, only a third of women and around half of men achieve this amount of exercise. The German Cancer Research Centre, German Cancer Aid and the German Cancer Society are therefore calling for low-threshold exercise programmes that make it easier for everyone to get enough exercise. For example, cities and local authorities should organise public spaces to promote physical activity, for example with a safe network of cycle paths and floodlit running routes. It is particularly important to get people interested in physical activity from an early age. “We are actually born with a love of exercise. But for various reasons, many children forget to enjoy physical activity and grow up to be couch potatoes,” says Gerd Nettekoven, Chairman of the Executive Board of German Cancer Aid. “We are therefore calling for a daily, ungraded school sports lesson in all schools so that children can enjoy being active.”
It is also beneficial for cancer patients to integrate regular exercise into their everyday lives or to engage in targeted sport. “eople with cancer also benefit from exercise. Exercise therapy can help those affected during and after cancer treatment to better cope with the disease and mitigate the side effects of therapy, such as fatigue and chronic exhaustion,” says Prof. Dr. Michael Ghadimi, President of the German Cancer Society. After a familiarisation phase, experts recommend that cancer patients engage in 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week.
NAKO research on the relationship between physical activity and health
Two recent publications from this year:
- NAKO researchers from the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) have investigated the relationship between physical activity and healthcare costs as well as social costs. In their analysis, they were able to confirm that a lack of physical activity is associated with higher costs. They observed a positive effect on costs through recreational sport, while high levels of physical activity at work were associated with higher costs in this study.
To the original publication: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-024-01697-9
- NAKO researchers surveyed around 150,000 participants in the German National Cohort (NAKO) about their physical activity during this time. The majority of respondents reported a significant decrease in physical activity and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, especially among those who switched to working from home. The results of the study can help to reflect the corona restrictions at the time, taking into account the changes in lifestyle.
To the original publication: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17675-y
NAKO expert groups
In the expert groups of the German National Cohort (NAKO) , researchers from various fields of epidemiology and medicine dedicate themselves to a specific focus, such as cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases and many more. The German National Cohort (NAKO) also has its own expert groups on cancer and physical activity.
| Expert group | Speakers | Deputies |
| Cancer diseases | Prof. Dr. Rudolf Kaaks | Prof. Dr. Dr. Michael Leitzmann |
| Fitness, physical activity | Dr. Hansjörg Baurecht Dr. Florian Herbolsheimer | Prof. Dr. Karen Steindorf PD Dr. Lilian Krist |
Online-Kampagne: #MitMirGehen
To mark National Cancer Prevention Week 2024, the three organisations are launching a social media campaign under the motto “Will you walk with me?”. The aim is for people to motivate each other to exercise together and share the shared experience on Instagram, Facebook, X or LinkedIn under the hashtag #MitMirGehen.