Your Stomach Should not be a Waist Basket
As the obesity rate increases in this country we`re seeing an influx of patients with heart disease, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and now postmenopausal breast cancer. A multitude of studies emerging show the correlation between women who are overweight or obese at the time of breast cancer diagnosis with a greater risk of recurrence and death than their leaner counterparts. There is even evidence suggesting that women who gain weight post breast cancer diagnosis have a lower chance in recovering from the disease.
One related factor to the higher rates of breast cancer deaths in obese women is that breast cancer is more likely to be detected in these women at a later stage of the disease. Since the breasts of obese women are composed mostly of fatty tissues it is harder to identify tumors. Scientists are estimating that roughly between 11,000 to 18,000 breast cancer related deaths in the U.S. in women over the age of 50 may be avoided by maintaining a healthy Body mass Index (BMI) preferably under 25 throughout adulthood (to calculate your BMI follow the link here)www.bmi-calculator.net/
Ironically enough the effect of obesity on a women`s breast cancer risk greatly depends on her weight during menopause. Prior to menopause, obese women have a lower risk than women of a healthy weight, but post menopause obese women have 1.5 times the risk compared to thinner women. Both the increased risk of developing breast cancer and dying from it after menopause are believed to be due to an increased level of estrogen in obese women. Prior to menopause the primary source of this hormone stems from the ovaries, where after menopause fat tissues become the primary source of estrogen. Estrogen levels are anywhere from 50% to 100% higher in heavy women than their slimmer equals, therefore exposing obese women to more estrogen stimulation which leads to a more rapid growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors.
Weight-loss intervention is beneficial to all women (as well as men). As more and more research proves just HOW much our weight affects our overall health it becomes an even greater priority to get healthy. As Arnold H. Glasgow once said ``your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip``