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have shown that excess weight and large sizes have been associated
to a higher risk of breast cancer.
It remains unclear the amount or intensity of exercise that
is needed to produce this effect and at what age the physical
activity must occur. The study consisted of a group of 74,171
women aged 50-79 from 40 U.S. clinical centers between 1993-1998
for the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study.
Information collected was based on factors such as medical,
family history, physical activity, diet, height, weight and
lifetime use of hormone therapy.
In a four-and-a-half year follow-up of the study, breast
cancer was newly diagnosed in 1,780 of the women. The study
also revealed that women who participated in regular strenuous
physical activities at the age of 35 decreased their risk
of breast cancer by 14 percent compared with less active women.
This is further evidence that exercise before and after menopause
are linked to breast cancer prevention. The effect was realized
even with small increments of exercise equivalent to one to
two hours per week of brisk walking. The results have shared
similarities to those associated with decreasing the risk
of cardiovascular disease among postmenopausal women and those
with diabetes.
Canadian
Medical Journal March 2, 2004;170(5) (Free Full Text Article)
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