Exercise As A Teenager Decreases Risk Of Cancer In Middle-Age

Of course, exercise can lower your risk of numerous health problems, including weight gain and cardiovascular issues. But did you know that exercise as a teenager could also decrease your risk for cancer during middle-age?

New findings published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reveal that modifying diet and certain lifestyle changes can indeed help to lower the risk of this and other health problems.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from the Shanghai Women's Health Study, an ongoing study of 74,941 Chinese women between the ages of 40 and 70 that started in 1996. They looked to see if activity as a teenager translated to better adult health.

Women enrolled in the study were then asked about certain adolescent exercise practices they were involved in, including things like sports teams. They were then interviewed every 2 to 3 years and followed up on their exercise practices as adults. Exercising at least once a week for three continuous months was considered part of a normal routine.

Findings revealed that those who regularly participated in a sports team were less likely to develop cancer later. For instance, women who exercised as adolescents and as adults were found to have a 20 percent reduced risk of dying from all causes as well as a 17 percent lower risk from dying of cardiovascular disease and a 13 percent lower risk of dying from cancer.

"Our results support the importance of promoting exercise participation in adolescence to reduce mortality in later life and highlight the critical need for the initiation of disease prevention early in life," said Dr. Sarah Nechuta, and assistant professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt University Epidemiology Center, in a press release.

Related Articles

Nestlé 'Exercise in a Bottle' Helps People Living A Sedentary Lifestyle

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).