| The University of South Carolina Arnold School of | | | | moderate-intensity exercise, or 150 minutes doing a |
| Public Health found that women who exercise | | | | more vigorous workout (running, aerobics classes, |
| regularly and are physically fit are less likely to die | | | | etc.), were considered high fitness. The participants |
| from breast cancer. Previous research has made a | | | | that did not meet the required 150 minutes of |
| correlation between exercise and the prevention of | | | | activity per week were labeled low fitness. |
| cancer, but Dr. Steve Blair, an Arnold School | | | | According to the results of the study, the women |
| researcher and a past president of the American | | | | who were considered to be in the low fitness |
| College of Sports Medicine, states that "[w]e believe | | | | category were three times as likely to die from |
| this is the first study to evaluate the association of | | | | breast cancer as those women in the high fitness |
| objectively measured fitness and risk of dying from | | | | category. The women in the moderate fitness group |
| breast cancer... [t]he results suggest a stronger | | | | were also found to be less likely to be diagnosed |
| protective effect than has been seen in most studies | | | | with breast cancer than those in the low category. |
| on self-reported physical activity and breast cancer, | | | | This finding is extremely helpful in preventing a |
| probably because the objective laboratory test of | | | | disease that claims the lives of over 40,000 women |
| fitness is more accurate that self-reports of activity." | | | | per year. 30 minutes of exercise 5 days per week is |
| This study included over 14,000 female participants | | | | easily attainable, especially if you're able to split it into |
| between the ages of 20-83 who had no history of | | | | bouts of 10 minutes or more. You will still achieve the |
| breast cancer. Between 1973 and 2001, each | | | | same benefits and it won't seem as time consuming |
| participant was given an initial medical examination | | | | or unrealistic if you have a hectic schedule. If you're |
| that tested their maximal exercise capacity and was | | | | able to perform more vigorous exercise during those |
| continually observed through 2003 for breast cancer | | | | sessions, the gains will be even greater and will put |
| diagnosis and death due to this disease. Women in | | | | you into the high fitness category. Now that breast |
| the study were divided into 3 categories: low, | | | | cancer prevention can be added to reducing the risk |
| moderate, and high, based on their individual fitness. | | | | of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high |
| The "Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans" | | | | cholesterol on the list of advantages of exercise, it is |
| suggests 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, | | | | even more important that every woman participates |
| such as walking, 5 days per week (150 minutes per | | | | in a regular fitness routine. |
| week). Participants that followed this guideline were | | | | For the University of South Carolina's report of the |
| categorized as moderate exercisers. Women that | | | | findings, click here. |
| exercised 300 minutes per week of | | | | |