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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
04:19
A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
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Eating Disorders and Breast Cancer
Katie M O'Brien1, Denis R Whelan1,2, Dale P Sandler3
1Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Summary
Women with a history of eating disorders had a significantly reduced risk of developing invasive breast cancer. This finding suggests a potential long-term protective effect of past eating disorders on breast cancer incidence.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, impact overall and reproductive health.
- These conditions may also influence the risk of developing breast cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between self-reported eating disorders and the risk of invasive breast cancer.
- To examine the long-term effects of eating disorders on breast cancer incidence in a prospective cohort.
Main Methods:
- The Sister Study enrolled 47,813 women aged 35-74 with a family history of breast cancer but no personal history.
- Data collected between 2003-2009 were analyzed for associations between eating disorders and invasive breast cancer over a median follow-up of 5.4 years.
- Adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were calculated.
Main Results:
- Three percent (1,569 participants) reported a history of an eating disorder.
- Women with a history of eating disorders showed a reduced risk of invasive breast cancer (HR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42-0.92) compared to those without such a history.
- The association was observed in a large, prospective, observational cohort study.
Conclusions:
- A history of eating disorders is inversely associated with the risk of invasive breast cancer.
- These findings suggest that historical eating disorders may confer a long-term reduction in breast cancer risk.
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