Walking an hour a day can cut risk of breast cancer:
Brisk stroll can reduce chance in over-50s by 14%
- - Women who do more vigorous activities get almost double protection
- - Scientists claim this is the first study to examine walking benefits
- - It is thought to cut down the body fat that nurtures cancer hormones
By JENNY HOPE
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Breakthrough? Just 60 minutes of gentle exercise a day dramatically our cuts risk, scientists claim
Women who walk for an hour a day can cut their risk of breast cancer in later life, say researchers.
Taking a brisk stroll can dramatically reduce the chances of developing the disease in women over 50, the period at which they are most at risk.
Just 60 minutes of so-called moderate activity a day led to a 14 per cent lower risk compared to women who were less active, a study revealed.
And women who did more vigorous activities got almost double the protection, cutting their risk of breast cancer by a quarter.
Previous studies have shown the benefits of exercise, but scientists claim the latest research is the first to examine walking.
It is thought to help cut down the body fat that can produce cancer-stimulating hormones such as oestrogen and insulin.
Scientists at the American Cancer Society studied 73,615 post-menopausal women, of whom 4,760 were diagnosed with breast cancer during a 17-year follow-up.
Among all women in the group, 47 per cent said walking was their only recreational activity.
Of that group, those who walked at least seven hours a week had a 14 per cent lower risk of getting breast cancer compared to those who walked three hours or fewer every week.
The study also found that women who took part in more vigorous exercise for an hour each day had a 25 per cent lower risk of developing the disease than the least active.
The results were unaffected by factors such as a woman’s weight or the use of hormone replacement therapy.
Dr Alpa Patel, senior epidemiologist at the Society, said: ‘Our results clearly support an association between physical activity and post-menopausal breast cancer, with more vigorous activity having a stronger effect.
‘Our findings are particularly relevant, as people struggle with conflicting information about how much activity they need to stay healthy.’
Good news: Dr Alpa Patel hailed the research's findings as helpful advice in the midst of many supposed 'solutions'
Dr Patel said promoting walking could be a good way of getting women to be more active. In the UK, around 50,000 women develop breast cancer each year – four out of five in the over-50s age group – and 400 men.
At the same time, three-quarters of Britons fail to do the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate activity such as gardening, dancing or brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise including playing a sport, running or aerobics.
Dr Hannah Bridges, of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said just 30 minutes’ moderate activity a day – or 3.5 hours a week – can reduce the risk of breast cancer by at least 20 per cent.
‘Any activity that raises your pulse reduces your risk – so regular brisk walks are an easy and free way to get active,’ she added.
Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Campaign, said: ‘This study adds further evidence that our lifestyle choices can play a part in influencing the risk of breast cancer and even small changes incorporated into our normal day-to-day activity can make a difference.’
The study was published online in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
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