Another Reason to Keep Your Kid Moving

A girl who’s physically active into her preteen years might be less likely to develop breast cancer when she grows up, suggests a new study. The reason: She may have her first period later, delaying her exposure to peak levels of estrogen, says Leslie Bernstein, Ph.D., a cancer researcher at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. She studied girls ages 9 – 13 over four years. Those who were moderately active for at least four hours a week – not just in sports, but informal time running around the playground – began menstruating latest. 

While delaying puberty by a year lowers life-time breast cancer risk by only a modest 6 to 8 percent, there are other benefits to keeping little girls moving. “Physical activity also reduces the risk of childhood obesity and, in adulthood, heart disease, depression, and Type 2 diabetes, as well as other cancers,” says Dr. Bernstein. 

Source: Parenting, September 2006