This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weiderpass, E. Articles by Adami, H.-O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weiderpass, E. Articles by Adami, H.-O.

A Prospective Study of Body Size in Different Periods of Life and Risk of Premenopausal Breast Cancer

¹ Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; ² IARC, Lyon, France; ³ Finnish Cancer Registry, Helsinki, Finland; ⁴ Norwegian Cancer Registry, Oslo, Norway; ⁵ Department of Community Medicine, Medical Facility, Tromso University, Tromso, Norway; ⁶ Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland; ⁷ Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts

Requests for reprints: Elisabete Weiderpass, IARC, 150, cours Albert Thomas, F-69008 Lyon, France. Phone: 33-4-72738049; Fax: 33-4-72738345. E-mail: elisabete.weiderpass{at}cancer.fi

The prevalence of obesity at all ages is increasing epidemically worldwide. Information on the association between premenopausal breast cancer and body size during childhood and teenage years is scarce. In 1991 to 1992, a prospective cohort study was assembled in Norway and Sweden. We included in the analysis presented here 99,717 premenopausal women. During the follow-up period, which ended in December 1999, 733 of these women developed a primary invasive breast cancer. Overweight and obesity [body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m²] at enrolment was associated with a decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer (P for linear trend = 0.007). Apparent associations between perceived body shape at age 7 and BMI at age 18, with heavier builds at both ages seemingly being protective for premenopausal breast cancer risk, lost their statistical significance after adjustment for BMI at cohort enrolment. Body size at age 7 was correlated with BMI at age 18 (r = 0.43); BMI at age 18 was correlated with adult BMI (r = 0.48). Changes in body size from age 7 or 18 to adulthood did not affect per se risk of premenopausal breast cancer risk. Height was related to risk, with a statistically significantly 30% reduced risk only in women shorter than 160 cm as compared with taller ones. The decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer was observed in overweight and obese women without, but not in those with, a family history of breast cancer.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R. Palmer, L. L. Adams-Campbell, D. A. Boggs, L. A. Wise, and L. Rosenberg A Prospective Study of Body Size and Breast Cancer in Black Women Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., September 1, 2007; 16(9): 1795 - 1802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Cleveland, S. M. Eng, P. E. Abrahamson, J. A. Britton, S. L. Teitelbaum, A. I. Neugut, and M. D. Gammon Weight Gain Prior to Diagnosis and Survival from Breast Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., September 1, 2007; 16(9): 1803 - 1811. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Baer, G. A. Colditz, W. C. Willett, and J. F. Dorgan Adiposity and Sex Hormones in Girls Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., September 1, 2007; 16(9): 1880 - 1888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. S. Tworoger, A. H. Eliassen, T. Kelesidis, G. A. Colditz, W. C. Willett, C. S. Mantzoros, and S. E. Hankinson Plasma Adiponectin Concentrations and Risk of Incident Breast Cancer J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2007; 92(4): 1510 - 1516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. M. Sinilnikova, J. D. McKay, S. V. Tavtigian, F. Canzian, D. DeSilva, C. Biessy, S. Monnier, L. Dossus, C. Boillot, L. Gioia, et al. Haplotype-Based Analysis of Common Variation in the Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase {alpha} Gene and Breast Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study Nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., March 1, 2007; 16(3): 409 - 415. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. B. Michels, F. Xue, K. L. Terry, and W. C. Willett Longitudinal study of birthweight and the incidence of breast cancer in adulthood Carcinogenesis, December 1, 2006; 27(12): 2464 - 2468. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Baer, S. J. Schnitt, J. L. Connolly, C. Byrne, W. C. Willett, B. Rosner, and G. A. Colditz Early Life Factors and Incidence of Proliferative Benign Breast Disease Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., December 1, 2005; 14(12): 2889 - 2897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Hilakivi-Clarke, S. E. Olivo, A. Shajahan, G. Khan, Y. Zhu, A. Zwart, E. Cho, and R. Clarke Mechanisms Mediating the Effects of Prepubertal (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Diet on Breast Cancer Risk in Rats J. Nutr., December 1, 2005; 135(12): 2946S - 2952S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]