Weight, height, body mass index and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women: a case-control study
2008

Obesity and Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women

Sample size: 232 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Montazeri Ali, Sadighi Jila, Farzadi Faranak, Maftoon Farzaneh, Vahdaninia Mariam, Ansari Mariam, Sajadian Akram, Ebrahimi Mandana, Haghighat Shahpar, Harirchi Iraj

Primary Institution: Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research (IHSR)

Hypothesis

Does obesity contribute to the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women?

Conclusion

Obesity in postmenopausal women is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • Women with a BMI in the obese range had a threefold increased risk of breast cancer.
  • The mean BMI was higher in breast cancer cases compared to controls.
  • Breast cancer cases were significantly shorter than controls.

Takeaway

Being overweight can make women more likely to get breast cancer, especially after they stop having periods.

Methodology

A case-control study was conducted with postmenopausal women, comparing those with breast cancer to controls without the disease.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to reliance on medical records and self-reported data.

Limitations

The study's small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

Postmenopausal women in Tehran, Iran.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.004

Confidence Interval

1.15–8.47

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-8-278

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