Research has shown that obesity in postmenopausal women can increase the risk of breast cancer. According to a recent study by Cancer Research UK Scientists, postmenopausal women who avoid becoming obese are cutting their risk of breast cancer by about a fifth. In fact maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the best ways to reduce the chances of getting cancer after stopping smoking.
Over the last couple of decades the percentage of overweight and obese adults has increased steadily, causing great concern for growing health problems. It seems this is due to lifestyle changes, such as the type of food that is now available and the amount of exercise that people are getting. Convenience and fast foods are often high in calories, fat, salt and sugar and it seems more and more people are choosing these types of food over home cooking.
Unfortunately for some people who have obesity-related genes, they will have a higher risk of obesity, however it does not mean they are destined to be obese. They simply have to work a lot harder than most to obtain a healthy body weight by committing to exercise and healthy eating for the long-term.
For some it is easier than others to manage weight though a healthy diet and exercise, however this is something that can be controlled unlike other factors such as family history of the disease. This increased risk for postmenopausal obese women is due to the fatty tissues that produce more hormones such as oestrogen and insulin than those women who maintain a healthy weight. This increased amount of fat in the body can increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.
The Cancer Research Scientists found that as the Body Mass Index (BMI) climbed so did the oestrogen levels and therefore the risk of breast cancer. As obesity is now linked to a significant amount of breast cancer cases, it’s imperative that everyone is aware of the dangers.
If you are concerned about your weight and the way it could affect your health, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor. Also check out our Nutrition and Breast Cancer Article for further information.