# UK Biobank cohort of 287,745 people: healthy lifestyle linked to lower risk of 13 of 27 cancers

- Published: 2026-11-12 07:02 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: healthy lifestyle and cancer, UK Biobank cohort, pan-cancer analysis, healthy lifestyle score, population attributable fraction, smoking and cancer risk, overweight and cancer, Cox models
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-d6563b853bea245806269d2d_uk_biobank_cohort/

**A prospective analysis with a median 11.5-year follow-up linked 4–5 healthy behaviours, versus 0–1, to lower risk of 13 cancer types. Smoking and overweight touched the most types.**

![UK Biobank cohort of 287,745 people: healthy lifestyle linked to lower risk of 13 of 27 cancers](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/408372ae002964e3.jpg)
*lomazoma.com*

Researchers analysed data from 287,745 UK Biobank participants to assess how a healthy lifestyle relates to the risk of 27 cancer types, according to a paper in the British journal of cancer [1]. A healthy lifestyle score was built from five factors: smoking, alcohol, diet, physical activity and body mass index. Cancer risks were estimated with Cox models [1].

During a median follow-up of 11.5 years, 12,947 participants developed cancer [1]. Adhering to 4–5 healthy behaviours, compared with 0–1, was associated with lower risks of 13 of the 27 cancer types: oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, oesophageal, stomach, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, lung, soft tissue sarcoma, kidney, bladder and postmenopausal breast cancer. Hazard ratios ranged from 0.12 to 0.79 [1].

The authors also calculated population attributable fractions for incomplete adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Significant fractions were found for 14 cancer types [1]. Among the score components, smoking and overweight were associated with the largest number of cancer types [1].

The authors write that smoking cessation and weight control may be cancer prevention strategies to be prioritised. The study is a prospective cohort analysis and reports associations.

## Sources

1. [British journal of cancer](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03613-9)
2. [lomazoma.com](https://lomazoma.com/gesunder-lebensstil-geht-mit-geringerem-risiko-fuer-13-von-27-untersuchten-krebsarten-einher-news-deutsches-aerzteblatt)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-d6563b853bea245806269d2d_uk_biobank_cohort/