Obesity May Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer
Corneluţa Fira-Mladinescu1, Traila Nicola2, Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu1, Danina Muntean1,
Smaranda R. Goţia1, Simona Dragan3, Sorina Doroftei4, and Brigitha Vlaicu1
1 Research Centre of Preventive Medicine, 2 Departments of Oncology, 3 Internal Medicine,
and 4 Hygiene, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
Corresponding author: Corneluţa Fira-Mladinescu
Research Centre of Preventive Medicine
Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Bd. V. Babeş no. 16–18
RO-300226 Timişoara, Romania
Telephone: +40-256-492101
Fax number: +40-256-220479
E-mail: mladinescu@umft.ro
CEJOEM 2005, Vol.11. No.4.: 259–263
Key words:
Obesity, body mass index, body fat percentage, breast cancer risk
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to investigate the existence of a causal relationship between overweight/obesity
and breast cancer and the presence of a dose–response relationship between anthropometric parameters and the risk
of breast cancer. A case-control study was performed in postmenopausal women divided into 2 groups: 120 patients
with breast cancer and 150 healthy controls. Anthropometric parameters (height, body mass, skinfold measurements)
were used for the calculation of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage. The caloric intake was also estimated
by using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. A strong association of obesity with the risk of breast cancer
was found (OR=5.04 for high BMI value and OR=2.64 for high body fat index, p<0.01). The dose–response curves
showed that BMI values higher than 27.5 kg/m2 as well as those of body fat index more than 35% increased
the risk of breast cancer. These results were further confirmed by the higher caloric intake in patients with breast
cancer (11794.2 ± 2020.1 vs. 9928.1 ± 2302.2 kJ×d–1; p<0.01).
In conclusion, maintaining healthy body mass by an adequate caloric intake and regular exercise constitutes an
important factor which may decrease the risk of breast cancer.
Received: 5 December 2005
Accepted: 14 Marc 2006
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