Childhood Height and Weight Affect Breast Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Hilakivi-Clarke L, Forsén T, Eriksson J G, Luoto R, Tuomilehto J, Osmond C, Barker D J P
Primary Institution: Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University
Hypothesis
How do weight and height during childhood affect breast cancer risk?
Conclusion
Tallness in childhood is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer, while being overweight reduces this risk.
Supporting Evidence
- The study identified 177 women who had been admitted to hospital with breast cancer.
- Of the women diagnosed with breast cancer, 135 were aged 50 years or more at diagnosis.
- Hazard ratios for breast cancer rose with increasing weight and length at birth.
Takeaway
Being tall as a child might make you more likely to get breast cancer later, but being overweight could actually help lower that risk.
Methodology
The study used birth and school health records to analyze the effects of childhood weight and height on breast cancer risk among women born between 1924 and 1933.
Limitations
The trends observed for breast cancer risk related to weight and height were not statistically significant.
Participant Demographics
Women born between 1924 and 1933 in Finland.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P = 0.01 at age 7 years; P = 0.009 at age 7 years; P = 0.08 for birth weight increase.
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.97–1.78 for birth weight; 95% CI 1.06–1.38 for BMI decrease.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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