|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Weight Gain May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer in
Older Women
Problem increases if weight gain
is after menopause
July 11, 2006 - Weight gain, particularly after
menopause, is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in
women, according to an article in the July 12 issue of JAMA.
| |
Related Stories |
|
| |
Health and Death Risks Underestimated for Extremely
Obese Women
Study finds obesity conferring less risk among
older white women
July 5, 2006 - The health risks for women who are
extremely obese may be underestimated as a new study indicates they have
a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol than
women at lower levels of obesity, which increases the risk of death.
Interestingly, however, they found obesity creating less risk among
older white women, according to a study in the July 5 issue of JAMA.
Read more...
| |
Watch Video |
|
| |
Extreme Obesity in Women Increasing, Linked to
Greater Risk of Death -
7/04/06
»1 min 58
sec |
|
|
Obesity May Cause Psychiatric Disorders but Decrease
Odds of Substance Abuse
Link between obesity and mood disorders appeared
strongest in non-Hispanic whites and those with higher education levels
July 4, 2006 - Obesity is associated with a 25
percent increase in the risk of developing mood and anxiety disorders
and a 25 percent decrease in likeliness for substance abuse, according
to a paper in the July issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, one
of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Read more...
Older Women Have Far Fewer Mammograms Than They
Report
June 20, 2006 - What older American women say about
receiving regular mammograms and what they actually do are two different
things, suggests a new study.
Read more...
Read more
on
Health & Medicine |
|
Background information in the article indicates
that weight loss after menopause lowers circulating estrogen hormones in
women, and because estrogen is directly related to breast cancer, weight
loss is thought to decrease risk of the disease.
Studies show that weight gain since early adulthood
is associated with increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women,
particularly those not taking postmenopausal hormones. However, weight
changes in middle-aged to older women (50 years and older) has been
studied less extensively.
A. Heather Eliassen, Sc.D., of Brigham and Womens
Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, and colleagues analyzed
data within the Nurses Health Study to determine the association
between weight change and the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal
women.
The researchers assessed weight change for two
different periodssince 18 years of age and since menopause. A total of
87,143 postmenopausal women (ages 30 to 55 years) were followed up for
up to 26 years to analyze weight change since age 18. Weight change
since menopause was assessed among 49,514 women (followed up for up to
24 years).
Women who gained about 55 pounds or more since age
18 were at a 45 percent increased risk of breast cancer, compared with
those who maintained their weight, with a stronger association among
women who have never taken postmenopausal hormones.
Women who gained about 22 pounds or more since
menopause were at an 18 percent increased risk of breast cancer.
Those who lost about 22 pounds or more since
menopause (and kept the weight off) and had never used postmenopausal
hormones were at a 57 percent lower risk of breast cancer than those who
simply maintained their weight.
The researchers concluded that 15 percent of the
studys breast cancer cases may be attributable to weight gain of 4.4
pounds or more since age 18 and 4.4 percent of the cases may be
attributable to weight gain of 4.4 pounds or more since menopause.
These data suggest that weight gain during adult
life, specifically since menopause, increases the risk of breast cancer
among postmenopausal women, whereas weight loss after menopause is
associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer, the authors write.
Women should be advised to avoid weight gain both
before and after menopause to decrease their postmenopausal breast
cancer risk."
Another recent study found that the health risks
for older women who are extremely obese may be underestimated. The study
indicates they have a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and
high cholesterol than women at lower levels of obesity, which increases
the risk of death. Interestingly, however, they found obesity creating
less risk among older white women as they aged. (See story in sidebar.)
Editor's Note: This study was supported by a
research grant from the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Eliassen was
supported by a training grant from the Department of Defense and Cancer
Education and a Career Development grant from the National Cancer
Institute. Co-author Dr. Colditz was supported in part by a Cissy Hornug
Clinical Research Professorship from the American Cancer Society.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
