Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026
09:29
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
18.9K
Obesity and Breast Cancer: A Complex Relationship
Victoria M Gershuni1, Rexford S Ahima2, Julia Tchou3
1Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 4 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Current Surgery Reports
|April 7, 2018
Summary
Obesity increases breast cancer risk through chronic inflammation and hormonal changes. Weight loss can reverse these effects, highlighting obesity as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Rising obesity prevalence in the US is linked to increased breast cancer incidence, poorer prognosis, and higher mortality.
- Obesity creates a pro-tumorigenic environment characterized by chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, adipokine imbalance, and elevated estrogen signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the complex mechanisms linking obesity to increased breast cancer risk.
- To highlight obesity as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on obesity and breast cancer.
- Analysis of mechanistic pathways involving inflammation, endocrine dysfunction, and hormone production in obesity-associated breast cancer.
Main Results:
- Epidemiological data confirm obesity (BMI > 30) correlates with higher breast cancer incidence, worse outcomes, and increased mortality.
- Obesity promotes tumor development via chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, adipokine imbalance, and increased estrogen signaling, affecting mammary tissue growth, proliferation, and survival.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is a significant, modifiable risk factor for breast cancer.
- Weight loss interventions targeting diet and exercise can positively alter cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, estrogen levels, and insulin sensitivity, thereby mitigating breast cancer risk.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
1.4K
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
1.4K
02:12Relationship Formation
46.3K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
46.3K
01:28Ending Relationships
205
The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
205
01:27Relationship Growth
225
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
225
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
329
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
329
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
269
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
269