Exercise

Physical activity includes exercise and other, everyday activities such as walking, housework, cycling at a casual pace, actively playing with children or gardening.

We don’t yet know all the reasons for this, but we do know that regular activity can help to prevent weight gain, which is known to increase breast cancer risk. Although it is thought that the more active you are, the more you reduce your risk of breast cancer, it may not matter what sort of activity you do, or how intense it is – it is the total amount that seems
to count.

Regular exercise or physical activity is good for your health in many other ways too. It reduces the risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and osteoporosis. Exercise can also help boost self-esteem, and improve energy levels and feelings of general wellbeing. The UK Government recommends that people take part in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on five or more days of the week.

For more information and advice on becoming active see the NHS Choices website www.nhs.uk.