https://doi.org/10.71450/37646284
Published: 10/02/2025
Peer reviewed by two members of Breast Cancer UK independent Science Panel.
Excess weight can influence quality of life and impair health by leading to an increased risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. With breast cancer, the risk association between excess weight is dependent on menopausal status for women; weight increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women but there is no evidence that being overweight when pre-menopausal is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Being overweight or obese is also a risk factor for breast cancer in men. Three main mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association between weight and breast cancer, including insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation, and sex hormone bioavailability.
Boulin T., Moody H. Weight and breast cancer. Breast Cancer UK. 2025. https://doi.org/10.71450/37646284
Next update: 10/02/2028
