Weight loss lowers breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women

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Washington D.C. [USA] Oct 9: In a recent study of postmenopausal women, participants who lost weight had a lower risk of developing invasive breast cancer than those who maintained or gained weight.

The findings suggest that weight loss may help lower postmenopausal women’s breast cancer risk. Although obesity has been strongly related to breast cancer risk, studies examining whether weight loss might reduce postmenopausal women’s risk have provided mixed results.

To examine the issue, Rowan Chlebowski, MD, Ph.D., of the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, and his colleagues analyzed information on 61,335 women participating in the World Health Initiative Observational Study who had no prior breast cancer and had normal mammogram results.

The women’s body weight, height, and body mass index were assessed at the start of the study and again 3 years later. During an average follow-up of 11.4 years, there were 3,061 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed. “Our study indicates that moderate, relatively short-term weight reduction was associated with a statistically significant reduction in breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women,” said Dr. Chlebowski. He added, “These findings, taken together, provide strong correlative evidence that a modest weight loss program can impact breast cancer.” The study is published in the journal- CANCER.