Nearly 40% of Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer Cases May Be Linked to Excess Body Fat
A new study from investigators from the Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Spain shows that approximately 40% of postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cases may be associated with excess body fat. This finding, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, shows that the attributable effects of excess body fat on developing this form of cancer may be significantly underestimated by the widely used measure of body mass index (BMI) that suggests only 10% of cases are connected to obesity.
The research was part of the multicase-control (MCC)-Spain study, which is evaluating the environmental and genetic factors related to various cancers, including breast cancer. The study has enrolled 1,033 postmenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,143 controls matched for age, sex, and geographical region. All participants provided information about potential risk factors including lifestyle, diet, and medical histories.
The dietary information of the participants was gathered via a 140-item food frequency questionnaire, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the alcohol intake of study participants between the ages of 30 and 40.
