New research reveals that women who both gain considerable weight in adulthood and have their first child later in life—or never—face a much higher risk of breast cancer. This combination appears to pose a greater threat than previously believed.
Early Motherhood Offers Some Protection
Women who have their first child before the age of 30 appear to have a lower risk of developing breast cancer later in life.
Weight Gain In Adulthood Raises Cancer Risk
Significant weight gain after the age of 20 is already a known factor that increases breast cancer risk, particularly after menopause.
The Dangerous Mix Of Late Pregnancy And Weight Gain
Women who gain substantial weight and either delay childbirth until after 30 or remain childless face nearly triple the risk of breast cancer compared to those who have children earlier and maintain stable weight.
Early Motherhood Does Not Cancel Out Weight-Related Risks
The study found no evidence that having an early first pregnancy can counteract the increased breast cancer risk caused by weight gain in adulthood.
Breast Cancer Remains Among The Most Common Cancers
Worldwide, breast cancer continues to be one of the leading cancer diagnoses among women, with millions of cases annually.
Lifestyle Changes Still Offer Preventive Power
Experts stress that maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly remain key strategies to reduce breast cancer risk.
Early Mothers Tend To Gain More Weight Over Time
Surprisingly, the data showed that women who had their first child early gained more weight as adults than those who had children later.
Weight Gain Over 30 Percent Triggers The Highest Risk
Women who experienced over a 30% increase in their adult weight and had late or no childbirth faced the highest breast cancer risk in the study.
The Study Followed Nearly 50,000 Women
The findings are based on data from a large UK cohort study, tracking women over an average of 6.4 years.
Doctors Urged To Focus On Combined Risks
Researchers recommend that healthcare professionals become more aware of how the combination of weight gain and late motherhood dramatically increases cancer risk.
This article is based on information from News Medical