July 20, 2006 - Gaining 22 pounds increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 18 percent, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Women who lost the same amount lowered their risk by 57 percent, however.

The study tracked 87,000 women between the ages of 30 and 55 for 26 years. Researchers monitored how their weight changed after the age of 18, and from menopause onward. Women who gained 55 pounds or more after age 18 and kept the weight on had a 45 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who maintained their weight. The study did count weight gained during pregnancy. Losing weight, even after menopause, significantly decreased the chance of breast cancer. But age was still the main risk factor for developing the disease, the study concluded.

The National Research Council report Fulfilling the Potential for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection examines several behaviors that increase the risk of cancer, including obesity, tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor diet, and alcohol use.

The Institute of Medicine and National Research Council report Saving Women’s Lives looks at different screening methods and ways to diagnose breast cancer. It recommends increasing the access to mammography and broadening the pool of people who can properly read mammograms. It also recommends tracking and providing specialized screenings for women at high risk of developing the disease.

• Fulfilling the Potential for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection (2003)
• Saving Women's Lives: Strategies for Improving Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis (2005)

• Breast Cancer Information From the National Cancer Institute