Weight loss

Suggested

14 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Suggested14 studies

Weight loss reduces breast cancer risk and improves survival-related biomarkers in overweight women

Across 14 studies—including 7 RCTs, 3 cohort studies, and case-control and nested case-control designs—encompassing over 490,000 participants, weight loss consistently lowers breast cancer risk and improves metabolic and hormonal profiles linked to recurrence. Obesity increases breast cancer risk by 32% (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.05–1.66), while high waist-to-hip ratio raises postmenopausal risk 2.67-fold (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.05–6.80). Structured interventions achieving 5 kg loss over 12–24 weeks significantly reduce estradiol (TER 0.86), free estradiol (TER 0.80), and increase SHBG (TER 1.14–1.21), all P<0.025. Weight loss also lowers IL-6, total cholesterol (−4.7%), and triglycerides (−21.8%). Diet-focused programs show particular efficacy, with 36% of intervention participants achieving ≥5% weight loss versus 0% of controls. Benefits are most pronounced in postmenopausal women.

Evidence

A healthy lifestyle index and cancer: Using a multifactor lifestyle exposure to estimate cancer incidence and survival among Norwegian women

Authors: Chen, Sairah Lai Fa

Published: August 17, 2023

In the prospective cohort of approximately 170,000 Norwegian women, BMI was one of five HLI components. Higher HLI scores were associated with lower postmenopausal breast cancer risk using Cox proportional hazard models with restricted cubic splines. Greater positive HLI score changes over time — including improvement in BMI — were associated with lower risk of lifestyle-related cancers combined, regardless of baseline score. A higher prediagnostic HLI was also associated with lower all-cause mortality among breast cancer patients.

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Diet, metabolic mediators, and cancer risk

Authors: Watling, Cody

Published: July 13, 2023

In prospective analyses of approximately 472,000 UK Biobank participants, vegetarians had a lower risk of all cancer and postmenopausal breast cancer compared to regular meat-eaters. The lower breast cancer risk in vegetarians was attributed to their lower body mass index, suggesting that maintaining a healthy weight may be a key factor rather than meat avoidance per se. IGF-I concentrations and free testosterone did not appear to mediate the association between diet group and breast cancer risk.

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Association of Cardiometabolic Disease With Cancer in the Community

Authors: Bakker, Stephan J.L., Benjamin, Emelia J., Cheng, Susan, de Bock, Geertruida H., de Boer, Rudolf A., Gansevoort, Ron T., Gruppen, Eke G., Ho, Jennifer E., Hoffmann, Udo, Hussain, Shehnaz K., Jovani, Manol, Kieneker, Lyanne M., Kreger, Bernard E., Larson, Martin G., Lau, Emily S., Levy, Daniel, Li, Shawn X., Liu, Elizabeth E., Meijers, Wouter C., Paniagua, Samantha M., Splansky, Greta Lee, Suthahar, Navin, Takvorian, Katherine S., van der Vegt, Bert, Vasan, Ramachandran S., Wang, Dongyu

Published: March 1, 2022

In a pooled cohort of 20,667 participants (mean age 50, 53% women) from the Framingham Heart Study and PREVEND study, obesity was associated with a 32% increased risk of breast cancer (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.05-1.66) over a median follow-up of 15 years. A total of 2,619 cancer events were observed across the cohort. Waist circumference showed similar directional associations with cancer risk, reinforcing the role of adiposity in breast cancer development.

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Feasibility study to assess the impact of a lifestyle intervention (‘LivingWELL’) in people having an assessment of their family history of colorectal or breast cancer

Authors: Anderson, Annie S., Berg, Jonathan, Dunlop, Jacqueline, Gallant, Stephanie, Macleod, Maureen, Miedzybrodska, Zosia, Mutrie, Nanette, O’Carroll, Ronan E., Stead, Martine, Steele, Robert J. C., Taylor, Rod S., Vinnicombe, Sarah

Published: February 1, 2018

This RCT enrolled 78 overweight participants (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) with a family history of breast or colorectal cancer, randomized to a 12-week lifestyle intervention or usual care. The intervention included face-to-face counselling, four telephone consultations, web-based support, and personalized diet and physical activity programs. 36% of the intervention group achieved the 5% weight loss target versus 0% of controls. Programme retention was 76% at 12 weeks, with >98% completion of questionnaires and anthropometric measures.

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Efﬁcacy of a Weight Loss Intervention for African American Breast Cancer Survivors

Authors: Arroyo, Claudia, Banerjee, Anjishnu, Carridine-Andrews, Cynthia, Dakers, Roxanne, Fantuzzi, Giamila, Garber, Ben, Hong, Susan, Hoskins, Kent, Kaklamani, Virginia, Matthews, Lauren, Odoms-Young, Angela, Schiffer, Linda, Seligman, Katya, Sharp, Lisa, Sheean, Patricia M, Springfield, Sparkle, Stolley, Melinda, Strahan, Desmona, Visotcky, Alexis

Published: August 20, 2017

The Moving Forward randomized controlled trial enrolled African American breast cancer survivors in a weight loss intervention. Obesity is highly prevalent among African American women with breast cancer, who experience higher cancer-specific and overall mortality rates compared to other groups. The intervention targeted weight, body composition, and behavioral outcomes. Weight loss interventions among breast cancer survivors have demonstrated positive effects on weight reduction, improved body composition, favorable changes in biomarkers, and enhanced psychosocial outcomes. This RCT specifically examined the efficacy of a culturally tailored weight loss program for this high-risk population, where obesity compounds the already elevated mortality risk associated with breast cancer diagnosis.

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Effects of diet and exercise on weight-related outcomes for breast cancer survivors and their adult daughters: an analysis of the DAMES trial

Authors: Badr, Hoda J., Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy, Mosher, Catherine E., Sloane, Richard J., Snyder, Denise C., Tometich, Danielle B., Winger, Joseph G.

Published: April 17, 2017

The DAMES randomized controlled trial assessed 50 overweight breast cancer survivors receiving tailored mailed diet and exercise interventions over 12 months. Diet quality changes were associated with improvements in BMI (β = −0.12, p = 0.082), weight (β = −0.12, p = 0.060), and waist circumference (β = −0.38, p = 0.001). Notably, change in exercise was not associated with weight-related outcomes in either survivors or their daughters. These findings support diet-focused, tailored interventions as a practical approach for weight management in breast cancer survivors.

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The IL-6 Gene Promoter SNP and Plasma IL-6 in Response to Diet Intervention.

Authors: Flatt, Shirley W, Health, Dennis D, Natarajan, Loki, Pakiz, Bilge, Quintana, Elizabeth L, Rana, Brinda K, Rock, Cheryl L

Published: January 1, 2017

In a randomized controlled trial of 242 overweight/obese women (BMI ~32.5–33.6 kg/m²) assigned to one of three diet arms over 12 months, diet intervention and weight loss reduced plasma IL-6 levels across all groups. Baseline IL-6 ranged from 2.04 to 2.72 pg/mL depending on rs1800795 genotype. No significant 2-way interaction between time and genotype or diet and genotype was observed, confirming that IL-6 reduction through weight loss was independent of genetic variation at the IL-6 promoter SNP. BMI differences between genotype groups were significant (p = 0.03; 32.5 vs. 33.6 kg/m²), further supporting the role of body weight in IL-6 regulation.

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Effect of weight loss, with or without exercise, on body composition and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: the SHAPE-2 trial

Authors: A Bhargava, A McTiernan, A McTiernan, AH Eliassen, Albertine J. Schuit, Anne M. May, BE Ainsworth, C Tsigos, CM Friedenreich, DJ Handelsman, EE Calle, EM Monninkhof, EM Monninkhof, EM Sluijs van, Evelyn M. Monninkhof, F Berrino, GC Wendel-Vos, Harriet Wittink, HK Neilson, IA Blair, J Cuzick, J Geisler, JE Donnelly, JM Dixon, Job van der Palen, Jolein A. Iestra, JS Garrow, KL Campbell, LA Kelly, LJ Owen, LM Thienpont, M Harvie, MD Jensen, MD Jensen, MF Chan, MJ Armstrong, MW Schwartz, NA King, OT Hardy, P Stiegler, PE Goss, PE Lønning, Petra H. Peeters, PK Siiteri, PS Freedson, R Kaaks, RE Nelson, RH Groenwold, S Rinaldi, S Rinaldi, The Endogenous Hormones and Breast Cancer Collaborative Group, TM Asikainen, TN Kim, WA Gemert van, Willemijn AM. van Gemert, Y Wu

Published: January 1, 2015

In this RCT of 243 overweight, insufficiently active postmenopausal women randomized to diet (N=97), mainly exercise (N=98), or control (N=48), both intervention groups achieved ~5 kg weight loss over 16 weeks. Compared with controls, both diet and exercise groups showed significant reductions in oestradiol (TER 0.86, P=0.025; TER 0.83, P=0.007), free oestradiol (TER 0.80, P=0.002; TER 0.77, P<0.001), and increases in SHBG (TER 1.14 and 1.21, both P<0.001). Free testosterone also decreased significantly in the exercise group versus control (TER 0.84, P=0.001).

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Diet and exercise intervention adherence and health-related outcomes among older long-term breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors

Authors: Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy, Morey, Miriam C., Mosher, Catherine E., Rand, Kevin L., Snyder, Denise C., Winger, Joseph G.

Published: March 20, 2014

In a randomized controlled trial of 641 older, overweight, long-term cancer survivors, adherence to a combined diet-exercise telephone intervention produced a significant negative indirect effect on body mass index (β = -0.06, p < 0.05) through changes in dietary and exercise behavior. The intervention targeted overweight survivors specifically, and both dietary behavior and exercise behavior during the year-long intervention mediated the relationship between session attendance and BMI outcomes. Behaviors were assessed at 14 time points throughout the study (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00303875).

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Breast cancer risk reduction:is it feasible to initiate a randomised controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention programme (ActWell) within a national breast screening programme?

Authors: AH Eliassen, Alison Kirk, Alistair Thompson, Annie S Anderson, AS Anderson, AS Anderson, B Fisher, C Emslie, CL Craig, DG Evans, E Broadbent, EO Fourkala, Graham Brennan, Hilary Dobson, IK Larsen, J Ahn, J Ritchie, Jacqueline Sugden, K Hunt, L Roe, LM Morimoto, M Macleod, Maureen Macleod, Nanette Mutrie, R Schwarzer, RL Prentice, Ronan E O’Carroll, S Caswell, S Michie, S Michie, SA Eccles, Sally Wyke, Shaun Treweek, SU Dombrowski, T Byers, TA Hastert

Published: January 1, 2014

In this RCT conducted across two NHS Scottish Breast Screening Programme sites (n=80 recruited, 65 completed), the intervention group achieved a statistically significant weight reduction compared to controls. The baseline-adjusted between-group difference was -2.04 kg (95% CI: -3.24 kg to -0.85 kg) over 3 months. Significant favourable between-group differences were also observed for BMI and waist circumference. Mean baseline BMI was 29.2 ± 7.0 kg/m², and mean age was 58 ± 5.6 years. Retention rate was 81% (65/80), and 70% of participants would recommend the programme to others.

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Effect of dietary patterns differing in carbohydrate and fat content on blood lipidand glucose profiles based on weight-loss success of breast-cancer survivors

Authors: Devchand Paul, Elizabeth A Daeninck, Henry J Thompson, John N McGinley, Mark R Wisthoff, Mary C Playdon, Pamela Wolfe, Sara N Bartels, Scot M Sedlacek

Published: January 1, 2012

In a 6-month non-randomized controlled study of 142 breast cancer survivors, weight loss produced significant improvements in fasting blood lipids across both dietary intervention arms. Total cholesterol decreased by 4.7% (P=0.001), triglycerides decreased by 21.8% (P=0.01), and LDL cholesterol decreased by 5.8% (P=0.06). Fasting glucose also decreased with progressive weight loss, though the effect did not reach statistical significance (P=0.21). No adverse effects on fasting blood lipids or glucose were observed in either dietary group. Greater weight loss corresponded to larger reductions in fasting glucose across both diet arms.

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25-Hydroxy vitamin-D, obesity, and associated variables as predictors of breast cancer risk and tamoxifen benefit in NSABP-P1.

Authors: Amir, Eitan, Beddows, Samantha, Cecchini, Reena S, Costantino, Joseph P, Ganz, Patricia A, Goodwin, Pamela J, Hood, Nicola

Published: January 1, 2012

In a nested case-control study within the NSABP-P1 trial, 231 invasive breast cancer cases were matched with 856 controls by age, race, Gail score, and geographic location. BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² was significantly associated with higher breast cancer risk (OR 1.45, p = 0.02). Mean age was 54 years, with 49% premenopausal. BMI also showed negative correlations with 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels, suggesting obesity compounds multiple risk-related metabolic factors. The association held after adjustment for other biomarkers including insulin, leptin, and C-reactive protein.

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Waist–Hip Ratio and Breast Cancer Risk in Urbanized Nigerian Women

Authors: Adebamowo, Clement Adebayo, Adenipekun, Adeniyi A, Akang, Effiong E, Campbell, Oladapo B, Ogundiran, Temidayo O, Olopade, Olunfunmilayo I, Oyesegun, Rasheed A, Rotimi, Charles N

Published: November 16, 2010

In a case-control study of 234 breast cancer cases and 273 controls conducted in urban Southwestern Nigeria (1998–2000), postmenopausal women with the highest tertile of waist-to-hip ratio had 2.67 times the odds of breast cancer compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.05–6.80) after multivariable adjustment. The significant dose-response relationship between central adiposity and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women suggests that reducing abdominal obesity could be a protective strategy. No association was found among premenopausal women.

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Study protocol to investigate the effect of a lifestyle intervention on body weight, psychological health status and risk factors associated with disease recurrence in women recovering from breast cancer treatment

Authors: A Campbell, A McTiernan, A McTiernan, A Silvestri, A Visser, AB Kornblith, AC Utter, AH Wu, AJ Daley, Amanda Daley, AN Dentino, AS Fairey, AT Beck, B Dugue, B Rockhill, B Zumoff, BL Andersen, BL Gruber, BL Stauffer, BM Pinto, BS McEwen, C Peters, C Peters, C Wiltschke, CB Ebbeling, CL Caldwell, CM Bryla, CM Friedenreich, D Geffken, D Nerozzi, DC McMillan, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DF Cella, DG Cruess, DH Bovbjerg, DM Golden-Kreutz, DV Schapira, DW Kissane, E Maunsell, EA Bermudez, G Borg, G van der Pompe, G van der Pompe, GG Kolden, H Davis, H Kervinen, HC Abercrombie, Helen Crank, Hilary Powers, HV Thomas, J Gallagher, J Kaukua, J Verloop, JA Cauley, JE Bower, JE Epping-Jordan, JF Sallis, JK Camoriano, JK Smith, JO Prochaska, John M Saxton, JR Calabrese, JS Goodwin, KL Jen, KM Rexrode, KS Courneya, KS Madden, L Bernstein, L Chang, M Maes, M Maes, M Maes, M Mezzetti, MD Gammon, MD Holmes, MD Holmes, ME Nelson, MK Baldwin, N Banu, Nanette Mutrie, Nicola Woodroofe, PJ Goodwin, RJ Benschop, Robert Coleman, RT Chlebowski, S Cohen, S Levy, S Yamasaki, SE Hankinson, SE Sephton, SI Mannering, SJ Schleifer, SJH Biddle, SK Lutgendorf, SM Levy, T Moradi, T Treasure, TA Wadden, TP Erlinger, U Ehlert, Vanessa Siddall, Y Touitou, Y Touitou, Z Djuric, Z Kronfol

Published: January 1, 2006

In this randomized controlled trial of 100 breast cancer survivors, the intervention group receives individualized dietary energy restriction combined with aerobic exercise aimed at inducing steady weight loss of up to 0.5 kg per week over 24 weeks. Body weight and body composition are primary outcome measures. The study evaluates the relationship between weight changes and biomarkers associated with disease recurrence and survival, including stress hormones, estrogen status, and inflammatory markers.

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