Risks of Weight Gain After Menopause, Breast Cancer

Even though many women feel that it is okay to gain weight during menopause, because it is something that happens almost naturally, it certainly is not something you want to do.

There are a lot of women who face weight loss challenges during this part of their life but it is important to tackle that issue head on. Leaving it alone and allowing yourself to gain the weight without doing anything about it is putting your health at risk more then you know.

Your chances of getting breast cancer increase as you gain weight during menopause. You must realize what kinds of issues could go along with it if you discover that you are gaining pounds at this stage of your lifetime. The risk level is reversible though. Lower your risk of breast cancer by lowering your weight.

Indeed, studies done at the Harvard Medical School of Public Health have shown that women who’ve put on 55 or more pounds since the age of 18 are 45% more apt to get breast cancer in comparison to those who didn’t gain that many pounds. Using postmenopausal hormones can actually increase the risk of cancer.

It’s best not to gain weight in the first place. Sometimes things happen that we don’t expect, so if you have reached the point where you are interested in shedding some weight, it is possible to do it. The sooner you act the better. Your breast cancer risk will drop the faster you lose your extra weight.

Making sure that you are dieting and exercising properly is key though. You want to make sure that you are doing everything in moderation. It is important to make sure that you are still giving yourself enough protein and everything else you need for your body to function properly. With regular diet and exercise you will be able to lose the weight you need.

Dropping about one to two pounds a week is the healthiest way to go about it though. Insisting on faster results could not only damage your system but also almost guarantee that you will regain the weight in the near future. Slow and steady is the way to go when trying to lose weight.

Dieting and keeping in shape are important preventative measures for breast cancer, but you need to take care to not overdo it because you could end up hurting some other part of your body. Understand the facts and do something about becoming a healthier and better looking you.