Cancer support organizations in Germany called for an hour of daily exercise in schools, pointing out the protective effect against cancer when practicing physical activities regularly.
“The joy of movement is actually something that is inherent in us from birth,” said Gerd Nettkoven, CEO of the German Cancer Support Foundation. “But for various reasons, many children forget the joy of physical activity and grow up to be reluctant to move.”
It is important to encourage children to be physically active, according to a statement issued by the National Cancer Prevention Week, which was seen by the German Press Agency. The national week, titled “Moving together… reducing the risk of cancer”, runs from Monday to Sunday and is an initiative of the German Cancer Support Foundation, the German Cancer Research Center and the German Cancer Society.
On the occasion of Prevention Week, the three organizations are launching a campaign under the slogan “Do you want to accompany me?” on social networks.
The statement said that the goal is to encourage people to engage in physical activity together and share the activities they do together on Instagram, Facebook, X or LinkedIn under the hashtag “#MitMirGehen” (#accompanied by me).
“If you are physically active every day, you can reduce your risk of cancer on an individual level,” the three organizations wrote in the statement. “The risk of some common cancers in particular, such as breast cancer (after the menopause) and colon cancer, can be reduced by 20% to 30% through physical activity.” The statement, however, pointed out that an estimated 6% of all new cancer cases in Germany are caused by inactivity.
In addition to calling for more sports in schools, the organizations called for low-cost offers to encourage all age groups to exercise, noting that municipalities could, for example, provide safe bike paths and illuminated running tracks.
The organizations point out that the World Health Organization recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity, per week, and that only one-third of women and about half of men achieve this goal.