Maintaining a normal weight ‘reduces breast cancer risk’

Women who maintain a normal weight, perhaps through eating a healthy diet, have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer, a study has suggested.

Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center studied 85,000 post-menopausal women and asked them to complete a minimum of 20 minutes of vigorous exercise at least five days a week, maintain a normal weight and drink a maximum of one alcoholic beverage a day.

The rate of invasive breast cancer was 5.94 per 1,000 woman-years in those with a family history of breast cancer who adhered to all three healthy behaviours.

Among women who adhered to none of the behaviours, however, the rate of invasive breast cancer was 6.97 per 1,000 woman-years.

In those without a family history who adhered to all three healthy behaviours, the rate was 3.51 per 1,000 woman-years compared to 4.67 per 1,000 woman-years for those who adhered to none.

Last month, a special issue of the European Journal of Cancer revealed that the incidence of cancer in the EU increased by almost 20 per cent from 2002 to 2008.

Does this recent piece of research motivate you to exercise more?