Adult BMI change and risk of Breast Cancer: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010.
OBJECTIVE
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among women in the developed world. This study assessed the association between occurrence of breast cancer and body mass index (BMI) change from age 25 to age closest to breast cancer diagnosis while exploring the modifying effects of demographic variables.


METHODS
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were used. Women included were ≥50 years, not pregnant and without a diagnosis of any cancer but breast. The total sample included 2895 women (172 with breast cancer and 2723 controls with no breast cancer diagnosis). Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the OR and 95 % CIs and interaction evaluated by including an interaction term in the model.


RESULTS
Women whose BMI increased from normal or overweight to obese compared to those who remained at a normal BMI were found to have a 2 times higher odds (OR = 2.1; 95 % CI 1.11-3.79) of developing breast cancer. No significant association was observed for women who increased to overweight. However, a more pronounced association was observed in non-Hispanic black women (OR = 6.6; 95 % CI 1.68-25.86) and a significant association observed when they increased from normal to overweight (OR = 4.2; 95 % CI 1.02-17.75).


CONCLUSIONS
Becoming obese after age 25 is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women over 50 years old, with non-Hispanic black women being at greatest risk.
Department of Epidemiology, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, 714 N Senate Avenue, Suite EF 209, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. ggathiru@imail.iu.edu.|Training in Research for Behavioral Oncology and Cancer Control Program, Indiana University School of Nursing, National Institutes of Health, CURE Supplement, Indianapolis, USA. ggathiru@imail.iu.edu.
Wambui G
WG
Gathirua-Mwangi
Department of Epidemiology, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, 714 N Senate Avenue, Suite EF 209, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
Terrell W
TW
Zollinger
Department of Epidemiology, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, 714 N Senate Avenue, Suite EF 209, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
Mwangi J
MJ
Murage
Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, USA.|Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, USA.
Kamnesh R
KR
Pradhan
Center for Nursing Research, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, USA.
Victoria L
VL
Champion
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
BMI change; Breast cancer; Cancer; Epidemiology; NHANES; Prevention; Race; Weight gain