Breast cancer occurs when the cells in the breast start to grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. If diagnosed at a later stage or left untreated, it can have life-threatening consequences.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that occurs in women and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it accounted for 20.3 lakh cases and 6.7 lakh deaths globally in 2022.
While roughly half of the breast cancer cases had no specific risk factors other than age and sex, experts recommend being aware of other factors that contribute to the disease risk. One of them is obesity.
Also Read: Rare, But Men Can Also Develop Breast Cancer: Expert Shares Who Is At Risk And Warning Signs
Obesity And Breast Cancer Risk
In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Krithika Murugan, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, HCG Cancer Center, KR Road, Bengaluru, says, "Obesity is definitely a risk factor for breast cancer because more adipose tissue equals more peripheral oestrogen and hormonal imbalance as a result, which is a trigger."
This means that fat tissue in the body can turn into extra oestrogen, especially after menopause, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
According to a 2019 study published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control, regular exercise lowered the risk for both age groups, whereas weight gain and higher body fat increased the risk, especially for postmenopausal women and those with hormone receptor-positive tumours.
When it comes to excess weight, women tend to have a greater risk for other types of cancer as well. A 2007 study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) followed over a million women in the UK to see how weight affects cancer risk. They found that being overweight or obese increased the risk of many cancers, especially endometrial (uterine) cancer and esophageal cancer.
Dr Murugan highlights that obesity indices vary and are calculated by various means, with the Body Mass Index (BMI) being the most common. However, there are various BMI ranges for different races, which can be found through an online search or by consulting a dietician.
In general, WHO defines overweight and obesity as follows:
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- overweight is a BMI greater than or equal to 25; and
- obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30.
Additionally, muscle mass ratio and visceral fat measurement are also considered, the doctor shares.
Other Common Risk Factors For Breast Cancer
Risk factors for breast cancer can be divided into two categories: modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.
Modifiable risk factors include:
- Lifestyle factors, such as sedentary habits, processed foods, alcohol, and smoking.
Non-modifiable risk factors include:
- Age: Increasing age increases risk as cellular repair mechanisms may be affected.
- Sex: Females are more at risk due to the presence of hormones; males are affected, but less than 1%.
- Age at menarche, age at menopause
- Background radiation and environmental factors
- Hereditary factors, but the risk of breast cancer transmitted through genes is only 3-5%
How To Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer
Here are some of the things that can help you reduce the risk of breast cancer:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Eating a healthy diet
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Being physically active
- Breastfeeding
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding processed and preservative-laden food
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your own professional if you are dealing with any health issues to get the necessary treatment.]