Last Updated: 24th July, 2022
Have you ever pondered upon this thought that the fat-laden food on your plate can put you at the risk of Breast Cancer? Not yet, then you must before it is too late. Breast Cancer and obesity are linked!
Let’s shed some more light on this deadly disease. Breast cancer in many cities is the most popular cancer. It is the 2nd most common cancer in rural areas, accounting for 25% of all female malignancies.
Shocked, aren’t you??
Even though obesity has long been linked to breast cancer prevalence, it has typically been evaluated in BMI, i.e. the average body-wide distribution of fat.
But BMI has a drawback. It fails to identify where the fat is actually accumulating. So we have Woman’s Waist Size as a predictor of Breast Cancer.
Wondering how!!!
Breast Cancer And Obesity
According to a study published in BMJ (British Medical Journal), a woman’s waist size is a better predictor of breast cancer than BMI. Although more metabolically active, the fat tissue around the waist generates the output of estrogen in the body that accelerates breast tumor development.
What Does The Research Reveal?
UCL University College researchers in London researched 98,324 females of > 50 postmenopausal age who have had no Ductal Carcinoma history. These ladies were intended to fill out questionnaires describing their health history, lifestyle, weight, height and skirt sizes as well.
The participants were followed up subsequently over the years and their health, lifestyle and skirt sizes were documented. A total of 1090 women evolved breast cancer during the checkup.
The report reveals that “An expansion in Skirt Size by one unit per decade between 25 and postmenopausal age increases the likelihood of postmenopausal Ductal Carcinoma by 33 percent, while a drop in Skirt Size was linked with a mitigation in danger.”
The Impact Of Obesity
Expanding waist has been associated with other forms of cancer in the past, including that of the pancreas, prostate, ovaries and cervix. It’s no surprise that the belly fat also plays a role in breast cancer.
But this result showed that the increase in skirt size, independent of BMI, increased the risk of breast cancer and that fat accumulated around the waist is more dangerous than fat accumulated in other parts of the body.
This visceral fat can do more harm to a person’s body than the subcutaneous fat, causing increased levels of estrogen, insulin resistance and fatty liver.
P.S. Now, that you know how fatal it would be to have that excess fat all over your waist, take into account your form because if you have an apple-shaped body, it’s going to be only a bad news.
The Implication On Breast Cancer And Obesity
Increase in waist size can be linked to a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits of this generation. With obesity developing as a worldwide epidemic, females now have an easy technique of checking and taking measures toward their health. Rather than going through the inconvenience of assessing their height and weight to measure their BMI, women can simply measure their waist size.
Women now have the potential to alter the quality of their lives with the discovery of this connection between waist size and breast health. They need to be made aware of the importance of their breast health and how they can take charge to change the course of it.
Conclusion
The only way to reduce belly fat is by doing regular exercise and burning it off. Regular exercising not only reduces the risk of breast cancer, but also of other cardiovascular diseases. 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 days a week is what is recommended for women.
Simple measures such as periodic exercise, refraining from smoking and alcohol and keeping a good weight can decrease a woman’s risk for breast cancer by 20%-30%.
