Breast cancer and exercise
Researchers in the USA have discovered some good news for teenage girls and young women who take regular strenuous exercise. Their study showed that the risk of developing breast cancer in later life is greatly reduced (by up to 45 per cent) in those women who had exercised at least once on most days between the ages of 14 and 22 years.
Weight and breast cancer
The research also looked at the relationship between weight and the risk of getting breast cancer. The findings showed that having normal weight at age 18, not gaining much weight from then on and, in particular, trying not to put on weight around the time of the menopause, are all important ways to reduce the risk.
Healthy messages
The messages from these studies are very clear: girls should be encouraged to exercise as much as possible and women should try to maintain a healthy weight all through their lives.
Last Reviewed: 28 June 2001
