A new study has found that regular physical activity during adolescence may play a protective role in reducing biological indicators linked to breast cancer risk later in life. Researchers suggest that engaging in recreational physical activity during the crucial years of breast development can influence breast tissue composition and lower markers of physiological stress, both of which are associated with future cancer risk.
According to the study published in ‘Breast Cancer Research’, adolescent girls who reported participating in at least two hours of recreational physical activity per week showed healthier breast tissue characteristics and reduced levels of oxidative stress biomarkers. The research was conducted by scientists from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in the United States and highlights adolescence as a critical window for cancer prevention strategies.
Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 23 lakh women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, and approximately 6.7 lakh deaths were reported globally. In India, the disease continues to pose a major public health challenge. Data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2022) shows that breast cancer accounted for more than 1.92 lakh new cases, representing 26.6 per cent of all cancers among Indian women.
Amidst this growing burden, the findings of the new study are particularly significant as they point to accessible lifestyle interventions that could help reduce long-term breast cancer risk, especially in younger populations.
What the study found
The study examined the relationship between recreational physical activity (RPA), breast tissue composition, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in adolescent girls. Researchers analysed data from a population-based urban cohort involving 191 Black/African American and Hispanic (Dominican) girls aged between 11 and 20 years.
According to the study’s methodology, participants reported the number of hours they engaged in both organised and unorganised recreational physical activity during the previous week. Physical activity was categorised into three groups, none, less than two hours, and two hours or more per week.
The results showed that more than half of the adolescent girls, 51 per cent, reported no recreational physical activity in the previous week. 73 per cent reported no participation in organised activities, while 66 per cent reported no unorganised physical activity.
Among those who engaged in at least two hours of organised recreational physical activity, researchers observed significantly healthier biological indicators. Girls in this group had lower percent water content in breast tissue compared to those who did not engage in any activity. They also recorded lower urinary concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers.
Interestingly, researchers found that these associations were independent of body fat percentage, suggesting that physical activity itself, not just weight control, plays a role in influencing breast tissue biology.
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An association was also observed between higher oxidative stress levels and increased collagen content in breast tissue, which is linked to higher breast density. However, recreational physical activity was not significantly associated with inflammatory biomarkers after adjusting for body fat.
Summarising the findings, the authors concluded, “These findings support that recreational physical activity is associated with breast tissue composition and oxidative stress in adolescent girls, independent of body fat. Additional longitudinal research is needed to understand the implications of these findings regarding subsequent breast cancer risk.”
The data was drawn from the Columbia Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program Study, which is part of the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health Mothers and Newborns birth cohort. Participants were originally recruited between 1998 and 2006 from prenatal clinics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Harlem Hospital, and affiliated satellite clinics serving urban neighbourhoods including Central Harlem, Washington Heights, and the South Bronx.
Highlighting the strength of the study design, senior author Mary Beth Terry, Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, said, “Our research has several strengths, including the use of multiple biomarkers measured in urine, blood, and breast tissue. We measured biomarkers of stress and chronic inflammation that are widely validated and commonly used in epidemiologic research, enhancing confidence in our findings.”
She also emphasised the importance of including historically underrepresented populations. “Importantly, this research was conducted in a population-based, urban cohort of Black/African American and Hispanic girls - groups that are historically underrepresented in research and face persistent disparities in both physical activity levels and breast cancer outcomes,” she added.
Rebecca Kehm, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School and first author of the study, echoed this concern. “Our study population of urban Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adolescent girls is critical to include in breast cancer research. These groups not only have been historically underrepresented in studies but they face higher risks of developing breast cancer at younger ages and of experiencing more aggressive subtypes. At the same time, Black and Hispanic girls consistently report lower levels of recreational physical activity than their non-Hispanic White peers,” she said.
Why it matters
The findings align with a growing body of evidence linking physical activity to reduced breast cancer risk across different age groups and populations.
A large multinational study published in 2010 evaluated physical activity patterns among 1,463 breast cancer cases and 4,862 controls. Researchers reported that women who engaged in physical activity at least once per week had a 50 per cent lower risk of breast cancer compared to those who exercised less frequently. The study further noted that individuals who were physically active for more than 30 minutes per week experienced at least a 35 per cent reduction in risk across ethnic groups including Caucasian-American, African-American, Hispanic-American, Tunisian-Arab, and Polish-Caucasian populations.
The study concluded, “Physical activity may reduce breast cancer risk regardless of race, weight category, or family history of breast cancer.”
More recent evidence from India highlights the role of lifestyle factors in shaping cancer risk. A 2024 study analysing data from 28 population-based cancer registries under the National Cancer Registry Programme found that urban women face significantly higher breast cancer risk compared to rural populations. Cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi recorded much higher incidence rates, with the national age-standardised incidence reaching 32 per 100,000 women.
Researchers attributed this trend to urban lifestyle patterns marked by sedentary behaviour, obesity, delayed childbirth, reduced breastfeeding, and higher stress levels.
A 2025 review on breast cancer in India further revealed systemic challenges related to detection and treatment. The authors reported that “challenges include lack of trained health care providers, limited access to screening, delayed diagnosis, and unequal treatment availability.”
The review also pointed out that cultural stigma, gender inequality, and lack of awareness continue to prevent women from seeking early screening. More than half of patients were found to present at advanced stages of the disease, particularly among economically disadvantaged groups.
Another 2025 study analysing mammography uptake among over 35,000 Indian women aged 45 and above found low screening rates nationwide. The authors noted that “disparities in mammography uptake by age, residence and co-morbidities reflect the need for special focus and context-specific research for pragmatic interventions.”
International organisations have also reinforced the importance of physical activity in cancer prevention. The World Cancer Research Fund states that there is “strong evidence that physical activity protects against breast cancer (pre- and postmenopausal).” Similarly, the U.S. National Cancer Institute reports that multiple meta-analyses show a 12 to 21 per cent lower breast cancer risk among women with higher physical activity levels compared to those who are least active.
Steps taken by the government
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “The Government of India has introduced robust policies, strategic interventions, and financial assistance schemes to enhance prevention, early detection, treatment, and patient care nationwide.”
In the Union Budget 2025–26, Rs 99,858.56 crore was allocated to the health ministry, including plans to establish Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals over the next three years. Around 200 centres are expected to be operational in 2025–26 alone, improving access to cancer treatment at the district level.
Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), breast cancer is prioritised alongside oral and cervical cancers. The programme focuses on community-level screening, early detection through frontline health workers, digital reporting platforms, and strengthening district healthcare infrastructure.
The Strengthening of Tertiary Care for Cancer Scheme has decentralised advanced oncology services across states. India now hosts 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres, including major facilities such as the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar and Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata.
Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY continues to provide financial protection for cancer treatment, covering chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical care. By 2024, more than 90 per cent of registered cancer patients had initiated treatment under the scheme. The Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund also offers financial assistance of up to Rs 15 lakh for underprivileged patients.
India has additionally strengthened research and innovation. The launch of NexCAR19 in April 2024 marked the country’s first indigenously developed CAR-T cell therapy, significantly reducing treatment costs. The Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative, launched with the US, Australia, and Japan in 2024, aims to eliminate cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region through collaborative screening and vaccination programmes.
Preventive health campaigns are also being scaled up. According to the ministry, “Preventive aspect of cancer is strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Aarogya Mandir by promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level.”
Initiatives such as Fit India Movement, Eat Right India, and national yoga programmes further promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.
