Most Sustained Weight Loss Lowers Women’s Breast Cancer Risk

Women 50 years and older who lose a modest amount of weight and keep it off can reduce their risk for acquiring breast cancer, according to researchers.  Researchers set out to identify if weight loss in women 50+ would reduce their risk of breast cancer.  Weight loss was defined as 4 pounds or more lost and maintained over a 10-year period. Data from more than 180,000 women was evaluated.  Compared with women with stable weight during study period, women with sustained weight loss had a lower risk of breast cancer.  Researchers concludes, "These results suggest that sustained weight loss, even modest amounts, is associated with lower breast cancer risk for women aged ≥50 years. Breast cancer prevention may be a strong weight loss motivator for the two-thirds of American women who are overweight or obese."