Adolescent girls who regularly engage in recreational physical activity may significantly reduce their future risk of breast cancer, according to a new study. The research highlights the protective role of physical activity during adolescence, a critical phase of breast development.
Study Links Physical Activity to Breast Tissue and Stress Markers
Researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in the United States found that recreational physical activity is associated with changes in breast tissue composition and biological markers of stress in adolescent girls.
Specifically, girls who reported engaging in at least two hours of recreational physical activity in the previous week, compared with those who reported none, showed lower percent water content in breast tissue. This measure serves as an indicator of lower breast density, which is linked to reduced breast cancer risk. In addition, these girls had lower levels of urinary biomarkers associated with stress.
Findings Highlight a Critical Window for Prevention
Published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, the findings provide new insights into how physical activity during adolescence may influence biological pathways related to future breast cancer risk. Since breast tissue undergoes rapid development during this period, lifestyle factors such as physical activity may play a particularly important role.
Experts Stress Urgency Amid Rising Breast Cancer Rates
Commenting on the findings, Rebecca Kehm, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, emphasized the public health relevance of the study.
“The importance and urgency of this research are underscored by the rising incidence of breast cancer in young women and the alarmingly low levels of recreational physical activity observed both in this study and among adolescents globally,” Kehm said.
She further noted, “Our findings suggest that recreational physical activity is associated with favorable changes in breast tissue composition and stress biomarkers in adolescent girls, independent of body fat. These changes could have important implications for breast cancer risk.”
Consistency with Earlier Research in Adult Women
Notably, the study aligns with previous research in adult women showing that higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower mammographic breast density, a well-established predictor of breast cancer risk.
Study Design and Participant Profile
During adolescence, participants self-reported their engagement in recreational physical activity over the previous week, including both organised and unorganised activities. They also attended clinic visits that involved breast tissue assessments along with blood and urine sample collection.
As reported by NDTV, the average age of participants was 16 years. However, physical activity levels were low overall: 51 per cent reported no recreational physical activity in the past week, 73 per cent reported no participation in organised activities, and 66 per cent reported no unorganised activity.
Need for Long-Term Follow-Up Studies
While the findings are promising, the researchers emphasized the need for longitudinal studies to better understand how these adolescent biomarkers translate into breast cancer risk later in life.