Women over the age of 50 should lose weight to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Previous studies have shown that women who are overweight or obese have a higher chance of developing breast cancer, possibly because overweight women produce more estrogen, which can cause breast cells to grow and, if the cells grow uncontrollably, can lead to cancer. However, there is not much evidence on whether weight loss reduces the chance of developing breast cancer, especially later in life. The study looked at 180,000 women over the age of 50. The study found that women who lost weight and kept it off for about 10 years were less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than women who kept their weight stable, and that weight loss was associated with a reduced chance of developing breast cancer. Women over the age of 50 who are overweight or obese can reduce their chances of developing breast cancer by losing weight. Weight is not the only thing that can increase your chances of developing breast cancer. Other steps you can take to help prevent breast cancer include: exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and not drinking alcohol. The researchers who conducted the study came from 18 universities or research centers in the United States, Australia and Japan. The study was funded by the U.S. Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the National Cancer Institute. It was published in the JournaloftheNationalCancerInstitute, a peer-reviewed journal of the National Cancer Institute. Women who lost weight and kept it off had a lower chance of developing breast cancer compared to women with stable weight: 13% lower chance for women who lost 2kg to 4.5kg 16% lower chance for women who lost 4.5kg to 9kg 26% lower chance for women who lost 9kg or more Conclusion Many factors can influence a woman’s incidence of breast cancer, including family history and genetics, the hormone use, when or if they have children, alcohol consumption, and being overweight or obese. This study supports the current understanding and suggests that losing weight (if you are overweight or obese) may help reduce the chance of developing breast cancer (and many other types of cancer). However, weight loss does not affect other risk factors for breast cancer, so it will not completely eliminate your chances. Because this is an observational study, it is not possible to completely eliminate the effects of all other health and lifestyle factors that may differ for women who lose weight versus those who do not. This means it still doesn’t tell us exactly whether weight loss leads to a reduced chance of developing breast cancer, or why the chance is lower. Overall, this study serves as a reminder that being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer as well as other diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and that weight loss is capable of reducing the corresponding risk.