World Cancer Research Fund says bad diet and lack of exercise increases risk of breast cancer by 40%

A report by the World Cancer Research Fund states that it believes up to 18,000 women a year could be saved from breast cancer if they took more exercise and kept to a reasonable weight.

Around one in five women are classified as obese, and research has shown they are almost 50 per cent more likely to die from breast cancer. with being heavily overweight increasing the risk further.

It is thought changes in sex hormone levels triggered by weight gain may be behind estrogen-dependent tumors, which form the majority of cases.

The WCRF recommends women limit alcohol (which could raise levels of tumor increasing estrogen) and take at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Copyright The FoodPhysician.com  September 2009