Upper body fat localization has been associated with an increased risk of cancer. This study demonstrated that 64.2% of 124 women with at least a 4.5-kg weight loss decreased their upper body fat localization, as measured by a reduction in their suprailiac-thigh skin fold ratio and other skin fold thicknesses associated with upper body fat localization. Based on a risk model previously developed for breast cancer and upper body fat localization, a reduction in estimated breast cancer relative risk of 45% was calculated for the entire group of women who lost 4.5 kg or more in weight. Greater weight loss further reduced upper body fat localization and estimated breast cancer risk based on this model. Cancer 67:2622-2625,1991.
BESITY has been associated with the incidence of 0 breast cancer by some investigators'-6 but not by others.'-'' We noticed that, although obesity may be a weak risk factor for breast cancer, body fat distribution significantly increases the risk for breast cancer14 and affects the prognosis after the diagnosis of breast cancer. l5 Women with upper body fat distribution (android obesity) are at significantly greater risk of developing breast cancer than women with lower body fat distribution (gynoid obesity).
Women with upper body fat obesity have hypertrophic adipocytes, and the fat cells are larger than those in women with lower body obesity; fat volume increases by enlargement of the fat cells. Women with gynoid obesity have hypercellular obesity. Their fat cells are smaller and more numerous in comparison to women with android obesity. Their fat volume increases by a change in fat cell numbers, not size.
Women with gynoid obesity have been found to be more resistant to weight loss since the number of fat cells is not easily reduced.I6 Fat cell size can be more readily changed, and calorie reduction may be more effective in reducing abdominal obesity. This reduction would change the pattern of obesity and may alter breast cancer risk. We wished to determine whether calorie reduction and