European Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 23, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 90-95

Lifetime physical activity in postmenopausal Caucasian and Chinese-Canadian women (Article)

Tam C. , Li Q. , Friedenreich C. , Martin L.J. , Hislop G. , Hanley A.J. , Minkin S. , Boyd N.F.*
  • a Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Ontario Cancer Institute, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 2K9, Canada
  • b Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Ontario Cancer Institute, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 2K9, Canada
  • c Department of Population Health Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
  • d Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Ontario Cancer Institute, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 2K9, Canada
  • e School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • f Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • g Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Ontario Cancer Institute, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 2K9, Canada
  • h Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Ontario Cancer Institute, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 2K9, Canada

Abstract

Physical activity is recognized as a modifiable lifestyle risk factor that may prevent breast cancer. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the physical activity patterns in two populations with different risks for breast cancer. We collected physical activity information from two groups of postmenopausal Canadian women with substantially different risks of developing breast cancer - Caucasians (N=372) and recent Chinese migrants from urban China (N=352). The frequency, duration, and intensity of occupational, household, and recreational activities were measured throughout the lifetime using the interviewer-administered Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire. Compared with Caucasians, Chinese migrants reported lower average total physical activity over their lifetime and for each age period (0-21, 21-29, 30-39, 40-49, and ≥50 years). Compared with Caucasians, Chinese migrants reported greater lifetime occupational activity, but lower levels of lifetime activity for both household and recreation activity. Among Chinese migrants, reported levels of occupational, household, and recreational activities were all greater in migrants from Mainland China than in migrants from Hong Kong. In conclusion, our results show that total activity was greater amongst Caucasians than Chinese migrants, suggesting that the lower breast cancer risk in urban Chinese women is not likely to be explained by greater total physical activity. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Author Keywords

Caucasian Chinese Breast cancer physical activity postmenopausal women

Index Keywords

physical activity China household Chinese breast cancer Life Style Caucasian human middle aged aging Asian continental ancestry group priority journal cancer risk Aged Postmenopause Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans Canada female Aged, 80 and over Article Questionnaires adult European Continental Ancestry Group Motor Activity recreation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84893764653&doi=10.1097%2fCEJ.0b013e32836162c6&partnerID=40&md5=08fe9eed15e81915aac9884d046bdb75
DOI: 10.1097/CEJ.0b013e32836162c6
ISSN: 09598278
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English