Physical Activity in Adolescence Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Risk

Significance of Recreational Physical Activity

New Delhi, Jan 17: A recent study indicates that adolescent girls who engage in recreational physical activities may significantly reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

Researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health discovered a correlation between recreational physical activity and breast tissue composition, as well as stress biomarkers in young girls.

The study revealed that girls who participated in at least two hours of recreational physical activity in the previous week exhibited lower water content in breast tissue, which suggests reduced breast density and lower levels of urinary stress biomarkers.

These findings, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, provide new insights into how physical activity during adolescence—a crucial phase for breast development—can affect biological pathways associated with future breast cancer risk.

Rebecca Kehm, an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, emphasized the urgency of this research, noting the increasing rates of breast cancer among young women and the concerningly low levels of recreational physical activity reported in this study and among adolescents worldwide.

Kehm stated, "Our results indicate that recreational physical activity is linked to changes in breast tissue composition and stress biomarkers in adolescent girls, regardless of body fat, which could have significant implications for breast cancer risk."

The study's results align with earlier research in adult women, which found that higher physical activity levels correlate with lower mammographic breast density, a significant predictor of breast cancer risk.

Participants in the study self-reported their engagement in recreational physical activities over the past week, including both organized and unstructured activities, and underwent clinic visits for blood and urine collection, as well as breast tissue assessments.

The average age of the participants was 16 years, with over half (51 percent) reporting no recreational physical activity in the past week. Additionally, 73 percent did not take part in organized activities, while 66 percent did not engage in unstructured activities.

The research team highlighted the need for further longitudinal studies to explore how these adolescent biomarkers may influence breast cancer risk in later life.