Weight

Being overweight or obese affects your risk of breast cancer. The effect of being overweight or obese differs depending on your age and the age at which you gained weight.

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There are three known links between weight and breast cancer:

  • Putting on weight in adulthood (after the age of 18) increases your risk of developing breast cancer after the menopause. The more weight a woman gains over the course of her adult life, the higher the risk.
  • Being overweight or obese before the menopause slightly reduces your risk of developing breast cancer before the menopause. However, remember that most breast cancers occur after the menopause.
  • Being overweight after the menopause increases your risk of breast cancer.

Regardless of whether or not you have been through the menopause, gaining weight and being overweight or obese are associated with a variety of health problems. Maintaining a healthy weight throughout life can help to reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and several other types of cancer as well as promoting general good health. 

 

What is a healthy weight?

A healthy weight range differs per person depending on their height. To find your healthy weight range, use the NHS Choice’s healthy weight calculator.

If you're concerned about your weight, visit your GP for information on the best way for you to maintain a healthy weight.

Information on maintaining a healthy weight, including tools to assess your weight and advice on losing weight, can also be found on the NHS Choices website.

For more information on weight and breast cancer risk, see our fact sheet Obesity and breast cancer risk: the facts.

Information last reviewed: 1 November 2011