Extra Weight
May Lower Risk for Younger Women
November 28, 2006
Obesity is a well-known risk factor for breast
cancer after menopause, but it also appears to help protect
women from developing the disease earlier in life
Being overweight or obese has been linked
to menstrual cycle irregularities and other medical conditions
that limit ovulation. Less ovulation means lower circulating
levels of the breast-cancer-promoting hormones estradiol and
progesterone. The thinking has been that obesity
helps protect against breast cancer prior to menopause, but
not after it, by reducing circulating levels of these sex
hormones
Women who were obese at the time of diagnosis
had a 19% lower breast cancer risk than normal-weight women,
after researchers adjusted for other disease risk factors
such as family history and lifestyle and estimated ovulation
history.
Obesity remains one of the
strongest risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer. Around
80% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women who are 50 and
over.
The latest research is important, because
a better understanding of the mechanisms associated with premenopausal
breast cancer may lead to better ways to prevent or treat
the disease.
"The hope is that we can prevent this
very tragic illness among young women if we know more about
its causes".
Source From
http://www.webmd.com
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