Recent findings from a study conducted in Spain have revealed a surprising and significant link between excess body fat and hormone-positive breast cancer. This research, which focused on postmenopausal women, found that more than 40% of hormone-positive breast cancer cases can be attributed to excess body fat— a number far higher than previous estimates. These results underline the need for improved methods to assess obesity and cancer risk, particularly for hormone-positive breast cancer.
New Insights on Body Fat and Cancer Risk
While excess body fat has long been associated with an increased risk of hormone-positive breast cancer, this study offers a more detailed perspective. The findings suggest that traditional measures, like Body Mass Index (BMI), may underestimate the true extent of this risk. “Our findings suggest that traditional measures like body mass index (BMI) to measure excess body fat may underestimate the risk, and using more accurate tools reveals a larger proportion of breast cancer cases attributable to extra fat,” said Verónica Dávila Batista, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
BMI has been the go-to tool for assessing obesity for years, but it has limitations, especially for postmenopausal women. BMI only considers height and weight, without taking into account other important factors like age and sex. As Dr. Dávila Batista explains: “This can particularly be true in older women.” This insight led the researchers to explore a more precise tool—the Clínica Universidad de Navarra–Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE).
CUN-BAE: A More Accurate Measure of Body Fat
The CUN-BAE tool, unlike BMI, also factors in age and sex, offering a much more comprehensive and accurate measurement of body fat. “Age and sex are easy to obtain and very relevant for calculating body fat. Numerous studies have shown that the CUN-BAE better predicts metabolic and cardiovascular risk, but this is the first study that applies it to cancer risk,” Dr. Dávila Batista noted. This new measurement could potentially improve cancer risk assessment and lead to more targeted prevention strategies for women, especially in the context of hormone-positive breast cancer.
In the study, researchers analyzed data from 2,176 women—1,033 of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,143 who were healthy postmenopausal women. By using BMI, they estimated that 23% of breast cancer cases could be linked to obesity. However, when CUN-BAE was used, this figure rose to 38%, revealing a more accurate representation of the relationship between body fat and cancer. Specifically, for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancers, the risk nearly doubled with the use of CUN-BAE, from 19.9% (based on BMI) to 41.9% (based on CUN-BAE).
Understanding the Link Between Body Fat and Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer
While the study is observational and does not prove causation, the evidence is compelling. Researchers observed a clear trend: as body fat increased, so did the associated cancer risk. For example, women with 35-39.9% body fat had a 50% higher risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest body fat percentages. For women with over 40% body fat, the risk more than doubled.
The link between body fat and hormone-positive breast cancer is likely related to estrogen production. Before menopause, estrogen is primarily produced by the ovaries, but after menopause, fat tissue becomes the main source of estrogen. This increased estrogen production in fat tissue may stimulate cancer growth. “Excess body fat can cause low-level, chronic inflammation and lead to metabolic changes in fat tissue that increases estrogen production, which may fuel cancer growth,” explains Dr. Dávila Batista.
Implications for Cancer Prevention and Public Health
The findings underscore a growing need for more accurate tools to measure body fat and assess the associated risks. As the study’s authors point out, traditional measures like BMI may significantly underestimate the cancer burden linked to obesity. By using more advanced tools like CUN-BAE, healthcare providers could better identify women at risk for hormone-positive breast cancer and implement more effective preventive measures.
In particular, more precise measurements of body fat could improve early detection strategies and help inform individualized cancer prevention plans. The CUN-BAE tool could play a crucial role in this effort, making it a valuable asset in breast cancer research and public health initiatives.
Conclusion: A Call for More Accurate Fat Measurement Tools
The results from this study suggest that BMI may no longer be sufficient for accurately assessing the risk of hormone-positive breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women. With body fat playing such a critical role in cancer risk, more precise tools like the CUN-BAE could lead to better prevention strategies and public health initiatives. As researchers continue to refine these methods, it’s clear that addressing excess body fat could be an essential part of reducing breast cancer rates and improving health outcomes for women globally.
By incorporating factors like age and sex into body fat measurements, the CUN-BAE method provides a more holistic approach to understanding cancer risk, particularly for those most vulnerable to hormone-positive breast cancer. As we move forward, more research will be essential in applying these findings to other cancers and populations, helping to prevent new cases and save lives.
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