Women Who Walk An Hour A Day Reduce Their Risk of Breast Cancer: New Study

A new study found that women who stay active after menopause, even if they just walk for an hour a day, reduce their risk of getting breast cancer.

New research published in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention shows that women who engaged in at least one hour of vigorous physical activity each day significantly lowered their risk for breast cancer compared to those who didn't exercise. The American Cancer Society (ACS) also found that women who engage in walking at least seven hours per week lowered the risk considerably.

Starting in 1992 and 1993, the research team followed over 73,000 women who were between 50-74 years old and monitored their risk for developing breast cancer though 2009. By the end of the study period, 4760 of the women developed breast cancer.  However, women who engaged only in walking but did so for seven hours each a week, had a 14% reduced risk of developing breast cancer over the years, compared to women who only did three hours or less. There is even less of a risk for women who engaged in seven hours or more of vigorous physical activity.  Their chances were up to 25% lower compared to women who got less than seven. 

"Our results clearly support an association between physical activity and postmenopausal breast cancer, with more vigorous activity having a stronger effect," said study author Alpa Patel in a statement, according to Forbes. "Our findings are particularly relevant, as people struggle with conflicting information about how much activity they need to stay healthy. Without any other recreational physical activities, walking on average of at least one hour per day was associated with a modestly lower risk of breast cancer. More strenuous and longer activities lowered the risk even more."

 "Given that more than 60 percent of women report some daily walking," added Patel, "promoting walking as a healthy leisure-time activity could be an effective strategy for increasing physical activity among postmenopausal women."

Although the study only followed women post-menopause, it's very likely that the benefits of exercise extend across a lifetime and is just as important for younger women who want to stay healthy in the future.