A recent study revealed that obesity and metabolic syndrome have varied but separate relationships with breast cancer.

As per the study, obesity was linked to a higher incidence of breast cancer and a higher metabolic syndrome score was linked to a higher death rate from breast cancer, according to Medical News Today.

To find out how obesity and metabolic syndrome affect postmenopausal breast cancer, researchers examined data from 63,330 women without a history of breast cancer who were enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative and had yearly mammograms.

There was a 20-year follow-up period for the study. The incidence, mortality, deaths following a breast cancer diagnosis, and hormone receptor status of breast cancer were among the study’s outcomes.

A low-fat diet, according to the researchers, can lower the death rate from breast cancer, particularly in women who have more metabolic syndrome symptoms, such as obesity, high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol.

“Both obesity, as well as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, can increase the incidence of breast cancer,” said Dr Parvin Peddi, a medical oncologist and the director of Breast Medical Oncology for the Margie Petersen Breast Centre at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre.