MedlinePlus:Breast Cancer

Lifestyle vs. Breast Cancer
The Role of Food, Fitness, and Weight in Your Risk of Breast Cancer

Article date: 2006/10/12

Each year, we learn more about how a woman's lifestyle and health habits -- the kind of food she eats, how much she weighs, the amount she exercises -- can affect her risk of developing breast cancer. American Cancer Society experts Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity, and Heather Spencer Feigelson, PhD, MPH, strategic director of genetic epidemiology, discuss the latest research.
Q: For women who want to lower their risk of breast cancer, is there any benefit to watching what you eat, controlling your body weight, and getting regular physical activity?
Feigelson: Absolutely. We know that being overweight can increase the risk of breast cancer after menopause
. And that risk increases with weight gain. Women who gain more than 70 pounds as adults double their risk.
Physical activity has been associated with a 10%-25% reduction in risk. Maintaining a healthy weight,
being physically active, and reducing alcohol intake are the best ways for women to reduce their risk of
breast cancer.
Of course, all women age 40 and older need to be getting yearly mammograms to uncover any sign
of breast cancer as early as possible, when treatments are most successful.
Q: Are there specific foods, eating plans, or calorie levels that you recommend for women who want
to lower their risk of breast cancer? What about a low-fat diet?
Doyle: There are no specific foods a woman should eat to reduce breast cancer risk. For women who are
concerned about their risk of breast cancer, the best eating plan (and calorie level) is one that helps them
achieve a healthy weight.