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Understanding Cancer SeriesApril 20, 2010, 4:48PM
A mid-life increase in body mass index (BMI) may substantially increase postmenopausal breast cancer risk, according to research by investigators from NCI and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. In a recent analysis, women who reported a gain in BMI of five points (5 kg/m2) or more between age 20 and postmenopausal age (ages 55-74) had nearly twice the risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer compared to women who maintained their BMI during the same time period.
March 31, 2004
What is physical activity?
Physical activity is any bodily movement produced by skeletal
muscles; such movement results in an expenditure of energy. Physical activity is a
critical component of energy balance, a term used to describe how weight, diet, and
physical activity influence health, including cancer risk.
January 30, 2004
At a time when nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population is considered overweight or obese, compelling evidence suggests that excess body weight is a risk factor for many cancers. However, body weight is among many health and lifestyle related factors that play a role in cancer risk and survival. The term “energy balance” describes the complex interaction of diet, physical activity, and genetics, and may play an important role in cancer prevention and control.