| Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer found in | | | | However, fat tissue also produces estrogen and, |
| women. The major causes of breast cancer are | | | | after the ovaries have stopped producing hormones, |
| obesity and overweight. | | | | fat tissue comes to be the most important estrogen |
| The effect of obesity on breast cancer risk is based | | | | source. Estrogen levels in postmenopausal women are |
| on a woman's menopausal status. Before the end of | | | | 50 to 100 percent higher among heavy compared to |
| menstrual cycle, obese women are less exposed to | | | | lean women. This makes the estrogen-sensitive |
| breast cancer than women of a medium weight. | | | | tissues exposed to more estrogen stimulation in |
| Anyway, after menopause, obese women have 1.5 | | | | heavy women, which causes a more rapid growth of |
| times the risk of women of a healthy weight. | | | | estrogen-responsive breast tumors. |
| Obese women are also at high risk of dying from | | | | Another factor related to the higher breast cancer |
| breast cancer after menopause compared with bony | | | | death rates in heavy women is that breast cancer is |
| women. Scientists estimate that about 11,000 to | | | | more likely to be detected at a later stage in obese |
| 18,000 deaths per year from breast cancer in U.S. | | | | women than in lean women. This is because the |
| women over age 50 might be avoided if women | | | | detection of a breast tumor is more difficult in obese |
| could maintain a Body Mass Index under 25 | | | | versus lean women. |
| throughout their adult lives (16). | | | | There is some evidence that, among African |
| It has been noticed that obesity augments the risk | | | | American women, the risk associated with obesity |
| of breast cancer only among postmenopausal women | | | | may be absent or less than that of other populations. |
| who do not use menopausal hormones. However, | | | | However, a recent report showed that African |
| there is no significant difference in breast cancer risk | | | | American women who have a high Body Mass Index |
| between obese women and women of a healthy | | | | are more likely to have an advanced stage of breast |
| weight if women belonging to both categories use | | | | cancer at diagnosis. |
| menopausal hormones. | | | | Weight gain during adulthood has been found to be |
| Obese women have higher amounts of estrogen in | | | | the most consistent and strongest predictor of |
| their body. Estrogen is mainly produced from the | | | | breast cancer risk in studies in which it has been |
| fatty tissues and more amount of fat in your body | | | | examined. |
| means you have higher chances of getting affected | | | | The distribution of body fat may also affect breast |
| by breast cancer. Good nutrition, healthy living | | | | cancer risk. Women with a large amount of abdominal |
| conditions and a fine environment may help girls to | | | | fat have a greater breast cancer risk than those |
| start puberty earlier in life and attain menopause later. | | | | whose fat is distributed over the hips, buttocks, and |
| Estrogen develops though out the fertility period. And | | | | lower extremities. Results from studies on the effect |
| better levels of estrogen in the body increases the | | | | of abdominal fat are much less consistent than |
| risk of breast cancer in women. Before menopause, | | | | studies on weight gain or Body Mass Index. |
| the primary source of estrogen are the ovaries. | | | | |