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Weight change in middle adulthood and breast cancer risk in the EPIC‐PANACEA study
Author(s) -
Emaus Marleen J.,
van Gils Carla H.,
Bakker Marije F.,
Bisschop Charlotte N. Steins,
Monninkhof Evelyn M.,
BuenodeMesquita H. Bas,
Travier Noémie,
Berentzen Tina Landsvig,
Overvad Kim,
Tjønneland Anne,
Romieu Isabelle,
Rinaldi Sabina,
Chajes Veronique,
Gunter Marc J.,
ClavelChapelon Françoise,
Fagherazzi Guy,
Mesrine Sylvie,
ChangClaude Jenny,
Kaaks Rudolf,
Boeing Heiner,
Aleksandrova Krasimira,
Trichopoulou Antonia,
Naska Androniki,
Orfanos Philippos,
Palli Domenico,
Agnoli Claudia,
Tumino Rosario,
Vineis Paolo,
Mattiello Amalia,
Braaten Tonje,
Borch Kristin Benjaminsen,
Lund Eiliv,
Menéndez Virginia,
Sánchez MaríaJosé,
Navarro Carmen,
Barricarte Aurelio,
Amiano Pilar,
Sund Malin,
Andersson Anne,
Borgquist Signe,
Olsson Åsa,
Khaw KayTee,
Wareham Nick,
Travis Ruth C.,
Riboli Elio,
Peeters Petra H.M.,
May Anne M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.28926
Subject(s) - public health , panacea (medicine) , biostatistics , medicine , breast cancer , family medicine , epidemiology , memorandum , center (category theory) , health care , gerontology , library science , cancer , political science , nursing , alternative medicine , pathology , chemistry , computer science , law , crystallography
Long‐term weight gain ( i.e ., weight gain since age 20) has been related to higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, but a lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer. The effect of weight change in middle adulthood is unclear. We investigated the association between weight change in middle adulthood ( i.e ., women aged 40–50 years) and the risk of breast cancer before and after the age of 50. We included female participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort, with information on anthropometric measures at recruitment and after a median follow‐up of 4.3 years. Annual weight change was categorized using quintiles taking quintile 2 and 3 as the reference category (−0.44 to 0.36 kg/year). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to examine the association. 205,723 women were included and 4,663 incident breast cancer cases were diagnosed during a median follow‐up of 7.5 years (from second weight assessment onward). High weight gain (Q5: 0.83–4.98 kg/year) was related to a slightly, but significantly higher breast cancer risk (HR Q5_ versus _Q2/3 : 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01−1.18). The association was more pronounced for breast cancer diagnosed before or at age 50 (HR Q5_ versus _Q2/3 : 1.37, 95% CI: 1.02−1.85). Weight loss was not associated with breast cancer risk. There was no evidence for heterogeneity by hormone receptor status. In conclusion, high weight gain in middle adulthood increases the risk of breast cancer. The association seems to be more pronounced for breast cancer diagnosed before or at age 50. Our results illustrate the importance of avoiding weight gain in middle adulthood.