Fitness should be a part of women's regular routine to help curb all kinds of serious conditions — from heart disease and diabetes to cancer and osteoporosis. But now a new study suggests that women's breast cancer risks, in particular, can be greatly reduced if they begin incorporating exercise into their lifestyle as early as their preteens and teens.
As part of an enormous national health study, almost 65,000 24- to 42-year-old nurses answered questions about their activity levels spanning as far back as age 12. The researchers found that the women who had been regularly active throughout their adolescence were almost 25% less apt to get breast cancer before menopause.
And those who'd stayed active (doing things like running more than 3 hours or walking more than 13 hours a week) from ages 12 to 22 had the greatest reduction in breast cancer risk.
More on Breast Cancer
Although breast cancer in teens is extremely rare, it's still wise for girls to learn how to perform a breast self-examination (BSE) so that they:
- can get used to how their breasts feel normally
- learn how to keep this practice up well into adulthood, when breast cancer is far more of a concern
After learning what's normal for them, teens can better recognize changes in their breasts.
Doctors recommend doing a monthly BSE at the same time each month (like a few days after a girl's period ends, when breasts are less tender). Some kinds of lumps that teenage girls may feel are normal, but a doctor should check out any lump to be sure. Make sure your daughter knows to inform you or her doctor if she notices any changes in her breasts or has any questions.
What This Means to You
On top of preventing future medical problems like breast cancer, regular physical activity (especially through sports) can help kids:
- achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- feel more energetic
- have a better outlook on life
- boost their self-confidence
- have more opportunities for social interaction
- have fun!
But physical activity tends to decline during the teen years, as many adolescents start dropping out of organized sports and participation in daily physical education classes becomes a thing of the past.
Since teens are defining themselves as individuals and commonly want the power to make their own decisions, they're often reluctant to do yet another thing they're told to do. That's why it's important to let kids decide how they want to be physically active. Emphasize that it's not what they do — just that they need to be physically active on a regular basis.
Encourage your kids to think outside the box — fitness doesn't have to be about conventional sports or pumping iron in the gym. And it doesn't have to be structured at all. Suggest alternative activities like:
- dance (which is "in" now as professional and amateur dancers strut their stuff on popular TV shows. Kids can go the traditional route with ballet, tap, and jazz, or try hip-hop, salsa, or ballroom.)
- rock climbing
- road or mountain biking
- hiking
- horseback riding
- Ultimate Frisbee
- yoga
- pilates
- fencing
- gymnastics
- martial arts (like T'ai chi)
- kickboxing
- skateboarding
- inline or ice skating
- water sports and activities (like swimming, surfing, wakeboarding, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing)
Whatever kind of exercise kids opt for, here are some ways you can help make fitness a priority for teens — both girls and boys:
- Support your kids' physical activity choices by providing equipment, transportation, and encouragement.
- Encourage squeezing in some kind of fitness activity every day and trying a variety of sports and activities.
- Restrict TV, computer, and video game time to no more than 2 hours of quality content each day.
- Create opportunities for your kids to be active with their friends, especially for teens (who are heavily influenced by their peers).
- Find out if your local gym or YMCA offers teen memberships.
- Buy some home exercise videos or DVDs if your kids feel a little shy or uncomfortable about playing sports or working out in public.
- Try coordinating your kids' exercise schedules with your own, especially if transportation is an obstacle. You'll motivate each other to stay active, plus you'll be acting as an excellent fitness role model.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: May 2008
Source: "A Prospective Study of Age-Specific Physical Activity and Premenopausal Breast Cancer," Journal of the National Cancer Institute, May 21, 2008.
