Research has previously suggested that regular exercise could lower hormone levels, improve immune response and maintain healthy body weight – all important factors in cancer prevention. Now, a new study states that women looking to minimize their chance of developing breast cancer in particular would be wise to engage in regular exercise and maintain a healthy body weight. The exercising and breast cancer study found that women who exercise approximately 10 to 19 hours per week are 30% less likely to develop breast cancer than women who never exercise at all.
In addition, the study results indicate that women who never exercised in their younger years can still realize major anti-cancer benefits by improving health during their reproductive and post-menopausal years.
It’s Never Too Late for Exercise
In the study conducted by Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, it was found that women benefited most when exercising during reproductive years, experiencing a 33% reduction in breast cancer likelihood in comparison to women who rarely or never exercised during reproductive years.
However, benefits were nearly as great for women who exercised in their post-menopausal years. These women reduced their risk of breast cancer by 30% in comparison to post-menopausal women who never exercise.
Lauren McCullough, the lead researcher behind the study, said that the findings indicate that it’s never too late for women to start exercising, especially given that breast cancer tends to strike women in and beyond middle age. Dr. McCullough also said that the more you exercise per week, the greater your breast cancer risk reduction will be.
Confirming Previous Studies
Epidemiologist Christine Friedenreich of the University of Calgary says that almost 100 studies have found a link between exercise and a reduction in breast cancer risk. Friedenreich, who actually specializes in studying the relationship between exercise and cancer, described the University of North Carolina study as a confirmation of these previous studies. However, she also said that this new study goes further by breaking the subject pool down by age groups, and finding that even older women who may have lived a sedentary lifestyle can reduce their risk of breast cancer by exercising regularly.
Unfortunately, the new study still doesn’t confirm exactly why the link appears to exist. However, Dr. McCullough believes that it may result from the fact that women who regularly exercise tend to have a lower body weight than women who don’t. Having excess body weight is associated with cancer because it usually comes with higher levels of inflammation and hormones.
At the same time, McCullough stressed that individuals can reduce their cancer risk by exercising even if they don’t notice a reduction in bodyweight.
Weight Gain = Increased Cancer Risk
Not surprisingly, the study also found weight gain to be associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Women in the study who skipped exercise and gained 6.5 pounds or more increased their risk of breast cancer by 28% in comparison to women who also avoided exercise but didn’t gain weight. In addition, women who engaged in regular exercise but gained weight had a higher breast cancer risk than women who maintained a healthy body weight but didn’t exercise.
The Nature of the Study
The women involved in the study ranged in age from 20 to 98. The women had participated in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project, a research initiative aimed at examining how the environment impacts breast cancer risk.
The researchers behind the study were careful to account for several factors that could have influenced the results, such as family cancer history, oral contraceptive use, pregnancy history and smoking habits.
In order to conduct their study, the researchers examined the amount of time the women devoted to recreational exercise. However, it’s important to remember that many women receive exercise naturally through daily tasks related to their jobs and household responsibilities.
Exercising and Breast Cancer: The Bottom Line
Women who engage in regular physical exercise and maintain a healthy body weight are less likely to develop breast cancer, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina. The full text of the study can be found online in the medical journal Cancer.
