A recent study suggests that weight loss helps to lowerthe risks of breast cancer in overweight menopausal women.

Losing weight, particularly through exercise and diet, helpsoverweight women to bring down the levels of certain hormones found in theirblood that are capable of increasing their breast cancer risks.

 In the newstudy, researchers attempted to understand how the potentially dangerous levels of body hormones could be affected byweight loss achieved through exercise and diet.

 439 overweight to obesemenopausal women, between the ages of 50 and 75 (average age 58) formed the subjectsof the study. The investigators randomly assigned the participants to one ofthe four groups.

 One group did aerobic exercise for 45 minutes every day, anothergroup followed a low calorie diet that included fruits, vegetables and highfiber food, the third group exercised (mostly walked) and also followed thediet and the fourth group did neither. The last group was offered fourweight-loss classes and eight weeks of physical exercise training, once thestudy was completed.

 Hormone levels were directlyused to measure breast cancer risks. The experts noted that the amount ofweight lost directly impacted the change in hormone levels. 

After one year, dieters on an average lost 10.8% of their bodyweight and those who exercised along with a diet lost about 11.9%. While those who only exercised and those inthe control group gained weight. 

 The researchers noted anincrease of 25.8% in sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which protectsagainst breast cancer by controlling the levels of circulating estrogen, inwomen who were on a diet and exercised while the elevation in SHBG levels was22.4% in those who were on diet without exercise. There was also a reduction infasting insulin levels and inflammation measurements in the diet-and-exercisegroup. In other groups, the changes were much smaller.

 It hasbeen observed that the link betweenweight loss and the reduction in breast cancer risk applies only to postmenopausal women. During menopause, the ovaries cease to function and thefat tissues begin to behave like an endocrine organ and begin to produceestrogens. 

 Women who are obese are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer, and, estrogen hasbeen identified as the culprit in several types of common breast cancers.Losing as little as 5% of one's body weight can reduce risks by 22%. Weight loss along with regular exercise can greatly help to minimize breast cancer risks.

The study does not conclude that weight loss lowers the risk of breast cancer but it certainly indicates that weight loss reduces the levels ofcirculating estrogens, which are capable of increasing breast cancer risks inpost-menopausal women.

 Study co-author Dr. Anne McTiernan, director of thePrevention Center at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center said, "Thefindings don't prove that losing weight this way will prevent breast cancer.Weight loss represents an additional option for long-term breast cancer riskreduction without significant or bothersome side effects."

Breast cancer risk factors include obesity, alcohol consumption,not breast feeding babies and hormone-replacement therapy. Obesity is a riskfactor that women can do something about.

It is never too late to change your lifestyle, especially if thechanges are lifesaving!

Reference:

 Journal of ClinicalOncology, May 21:2012