Obesity has long been linked to certain health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It is also strongly related to some types of cancers, particularly breast cancer. Recently, a major US study concluded that post-menopausal women who undergo bariatric surgery have a lower risk of developing invasive breast cancer, even more than those who maintain their weight.

According to Reuters, more than 61,000 women were studied over a period of 11.4 years, and the findings were that woman who lost five percent or more of their excess body fat within the first three years of the study were at least 12 percent less likely to develop breast cancer within the next decade.

According to Dr. Daniel Schauer of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, the decreased risk of developing breast cancer is linked to the fewer hormone levels related to the number of fat cells. The hormone that is largely responsible for breast cancer development is estrogen. A significant drop in body mass index can reduce estrogen levels, which contribute to the lower risk factor.

The lasting impression of this test is that women who commit to stop gaining weight (and who also slowly lose it over time) will strongly benefit from a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Losing weight through proper nutrition and regular exercise is ideal but sometimes inadequate for obese patients with body mass indexes over 35. People with excessive body fat will find much more significant and more permanent weight-loss by undergoing bariatric surgery, which typically involves removing a percentage of the stomach volume and therefore decreasing the patient’s stomach. There is no wrong reason to want to lose excessive body weight. Regain your health with bariatric surgery. Contact Clinique Michel Gagner or fill out a patient questionnaire to get started!