Scimex: Women with higher body mass index (BMI), especially in early adulthood,
may be at a lower risk of developing breast cancer prior to menopause,
according to Australian and international research. The research looked
at 19 different studies, including Australian data, covering more than
750,000 women. It found that for women aged 18 to 54, breast cancer risk
went down as BMI went up. This link was strongest for women aged 18 to
24. The study authors say that they are not advocating weight gain as a
way to reduce breast cancer risk but that understanding this link might
help to identify risk factors that might be modified.
