The study showed that obesity didn’t increase the risk of breast and colon cancer before menopause, but the situation changed after menopause. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — The risk of breast and colon cancer increases after menopause if weight exceeds an optimal level, research showed Wednesday.
Researchers from Samsung Medical Center had arrived at this conclusion following an analysis of the correlation between obesity and breast or colon cancer for about 600 women who participated in the national health examination between 2009 and 2014.
The study showed that obesity didn’t increase the risk of breast and colon cancer before menopause, but the situation changed after menopause.
The research team divided subjects into four groups by body mass index (BMI), i.e., normal weight (BMI of 18.5-22.9), overweight (BMI of 23-24.9), obese (BMI of 25-29.9), and hyper-obese (BMI over 30).
Compared to the normal weight group, the risk of breast cancer was 11 percent higher for the overweight group, 28 percent higher for the obese group, and 54 percent higher for the hyper-obese group.
The situation was same for colon cancer. Compared to the normal weight group, the risk of colon cancer was 6 percent higher for the overweight group, 13 percent higher for the obese group, and 24 percent higher for the hyper-obese group.
The research team concluded that the impact of obesity on the incidence of cancer was different before and after menopause due to the influence of the female hormone estrogen.
Before menopause, estrogen prevents obesity from increasing cancer risk.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
