Common body type under scrutiny after study reveals higher cancer risk
- Replies 0
When it comes to health, some risks are out of our control—like age, genetics, or the way our bodies naturally change over time.
But researchers are now pointing to something we can manage that may be quietly increasing breast cancer risk: excess body fat.
A major new study has found a strong connection between being overweight and developing breast cancer, particularly for postmenopausal women. The findings are clear, clinically relevant, and backed by one of the largest data sets of its kind.
Scientists examined the health records of 168,547 postmenopausal women and found that being overweight, especially in combination with heart disease, significantly increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
For every 5-point increase in body mass index (BMI), women with heart disease faced a 31% higher risk of breast cancer, compared to a 13% increase for women without heart disease.
The combination of overweight and heart disease seems to create an environment in the body that accelerates cancer development, said Dr. Heinz Freisling, lead author of the study and a researcher at the World Health Organization’s cancer agency.
The researchers also calculated that the dual condition led to 153 additional cases of breast cancer per 100,000 women each year.
BMI, which is calculated using a person’s height and weight, is widely used to estimate body fat and categorize individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, while 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or above is classified as obese.
While not a perfect measure, it remains one of the simplest and most accessible indicators of health risk.
“The findings of this study could be used to inform risk-stratified breast cancer screening programs,” Dr. Freisling added.
Researchers believe the increased cancer risk comes from the hormonal and inflammatory activity of fat cells, which are not biologically passive.
Fat tissue produces extra estrogen, a hormone linked to the development of certain types of breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women.
Obesity is also associated with chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, which may impair the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy cancer cells.
These physiological effects combine to form a high-risk environment that supports tumor growth.
The study also addressed other health conditions commonly associated with obesity, including type 2 diabetes, which was not found to increase breast cancer risk in this case.
This result was unexpected, as previous studies have often linked diabetes to higher cancer risks in general.
However, in this study, only the combination of high BMI and cardiovascular disease created a statistically significant increase in breast cancer diagnoses.
“This study should also inspire future research to include women with a history of cardiovascular diseases in weight loss trials for breast cancer prevention,” the authors concluded.
Also read: Could a simple blood test detect cancer years before symptoms appear? New research offers hope
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in both the United States and the United Kingdom, with nearly 56,000 new cases annually in the UK alone.
Each year, the disease claims around 42,000 American lives and 11,500 British lives, most commonly in women over the age of 50.
Alarmingly, cases among women under 50 are rising globally, and some projections suggest breast cancer deaths could increase by more than 40% by 2050 if current trends continue.
These statistics underscore the importance of understanding—and acting on—modifiable risk factors like weight and cardiovascular health.
Also read: Breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment: What every patient needs to know about this game-changing discovery
Doctors urge women to stay vigilant for early warning signs, including lumps or swelling in the breast or underarm, changes in breast shape or size, skin dimpling, redness, and unusual nipple discharge.
The NHS recommends that all women become familiar with their breasts and perform self-exams regularly, either in the shower, lying down, or in front of a mirror.
“There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you know how your breasts usually look and feel,” says the NHS.
Routine mammograms are advised every 1–2 years for women between ages 50 and 70, and earlier for those with family history or other risk factors.
Read next: Women’s health breakthroughs at stake—what you need to know about the fight to save this major initiative
Have you made breast self-exams part of your monthly routine? Share your thoughts and let us know how you're staying proactive about your health in the comments below.
But researchers are now pointing to something we can manage that may be quietly increasing breast cancer risk: excess body fat.
A major new study has found a strong connection between being overweight and developing breast cancer, particularly for postmenopausal women. The findings are clear, clinically relevant, and backed by one of the largest data sets of its kind.
Scientists examined the health records of 168,547 postmenopausal women and found that being overweight, especially in combination with heart disease, significantly increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
For every 5-point increase in body mass index (BMI), women with heart disease faced a 31% higher risk of breast cancer, compared to a 13% increase for women without heart disease.
The combination of overweight and heart disease seems to create an environment in the body that accelerates cancer development, said Dr. Heinz Freisling, lead author of the study and a researcher at the World Health Organization’s cancer agency.
The researchers also calculated that the dual condition led to 153 additional cases of breast cancer per 100,000 women each year.
Common body type under scrutiny after study reveals higher cancer risk. Image source: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash
BMI, which is calculated using a person’s height and weight, is widely used to estimate body fat and categorize individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, while 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or above is classified as obese.
While not a perfect measure, it remains one of the simplest and most accessible indicators of health risk.
“The findings of this study could be used to inform risk-stratified breast cancer screening programs,” Dr. Freisling added.
Researchers believe the increased cancer risk comes from the hormonal and inflammatory activity of fat cells, which are not biologically passive.
Fat tissue produces extra estrogen, a hormone linked to the development of certain types of breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women.
Obesity is also associated with chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, which may impair the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy cancer cells.
These physiological effects combine to form a high-risk environment that supports tumor growth.
The study also addressed other health conditions commonly associated with obesity, including type 2 diabetes, which was not found to increase breast cancer risk in this case.
This result was unexpected, as previous studies have often linked diabetes to higher cancer risks in general.
However, in this study, only the combination of high BMI and cardiovascular disease created a statistically significant increase in breast cancer diagnoses.
“This study should also inspire future research to include women with a history of cardiovascular diseases in weight loss trials for breast cancer prevention,” the authors concluded.
Also read: Could a simple blood test detect cancer years before symptoms appear? New research offers hope
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in both the United States and the United Kingdom, with nearly 56,000 new cases annually in the UK alone.
Each year, the disease claims around 42,000 American lives and 11,500 British lives, most commonly in women over the age of 50.
Alarmingly, cases among women under 50 are rising globally, and some projections suggest breast cancer deaths could increase by more than 40% by 2050 if current trends continue.
These statistics underscore the importance of understanding—and acting on—modifiable risk factors like weight and cardiovascular health.
Also read: Breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment: What every patient needs to know about this game-changing discovery
Doctors urge women to stay vigilant for early warning signs, including lumps or swelling in the breast or underarm, changes in breast shape or size, skin dimpling, redness, and unusual nipple discharge.
The NHS recommends that all women become familiar with their breasts and perform self-exams regularly, either in the shower, lying down, or in front of a mirror.
“There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you know how your breasts usually look and feel,” says the NHS.
Routine mammograms are advised every 1–2 years for women between ages 50 and 70, and earlier for those with family history or other risk factors.
Read next: Women’s health breakthroughs at stake—what you need to know about the fight to save this major initiative
