title: Association between body mass index and risk of breast cancer in Tunisian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of breast cancer in women has increased dramatically in Tunisia. The cause is perceived to stem from adaptation to a westernized life style which increases body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to investigate the association between BMI and breast cancer among Tunisian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based case control study of breast cancer patients seen between November 2006 and April 2009 at the University College Hospital Farhat Hached in Sousse, Tunisia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized questionnaires concerning BMI and other anthropometric data were completed on 400 breast cancer cases and 400 controls. The controls were frequency-matched to the cases by age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMI at diagnosis was positively correlated with the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women (P<.001 for trend). When compared with women with a low BMI (<19), women with a BMI of 23-27 and 27-31 had a 1.7-fold (95% CI, 1.1-2.9) and 2.1-fold (95% CI, 1.1-3.9) increased risk of breast cancer, respectively, after adjustment for non-anthropometric risk factors. BMI at diagnosis was not related to the risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women. The odds ratios for premenopausal women with a BMI of 23-27 and 27-31 were 1.5 (95% CI, 0.8-2.8) and 1.3 (95% CI, 0.4-4.5), respectively. Furthermore, present BMI was not associated with breast cancer risk in either pre- and postmenopausal women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight control in obese women may be an effective measure of breast cancer prevention in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University College Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. awatefmsolly@gmail.com
authors.forename: Awatef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Msolly
authors.forename: Msolly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Awatef
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gharbi
authors.forename: Gharbi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olfa
authors.forename: Kacem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.forename: Mahmoudi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kacem
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limem
authors.forename: Limem
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sami
authors.forename: Makram
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hochlef
authors.forename: Hochlef
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makram
authors.forename: Slim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Ahmed
authors.forename: Ben Ahmed
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Slim
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology