Longitudinal Study on the Role of Body Size in Premenopausal Breast Cancer

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Abstract
The inverse association between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women has been observed in numerous studies,1-15 but the biological mechanisms underlying this perplexing link have remained largely unresolved. A high BMI can be associated with irregular or long menstrual cycles or with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and it has been suggested that anovulation, which is associated with such characteristics and with decreased estradiol and progesterone levels, may explain the lower risk of breast cancer in these women. However, few studies have explored whether these or other factors provide mechanistic insights into the unexpected protection that a high body mass confers on the premenopausal breast.