The Link Between Weight and Breast Cancer Risk During Menopause

Weight gain during menopause isn’t just a cosmetic concern; it can increase your risk for disease

Bobbi Dempsey,

AARP

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En español

Published October 24, 2025

Maryam Khaleghi Yazdi

Weight gain during menopause is common, with the average woman gaining between 8 and 12 pounds, according to one estimate — but that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. Carrying excess weight can have serious effects on your health as you age and can even increase your risk for breast cancer.

AARP spoke to several doctors to find out what women need to know about their breast cancer risk during and after menopause — and the role their weight plays in that risk.

What does weight have to do with cancer risk?

Weight is a sensitive topic for many, and while the term “obesity” has long been used in medical settings, some doctors are shifting away from that label and instead concentrating on promoting fitness and overall health.

“What I try to focus on with my patients is being physically fit and having less body fat,” says Dr. Roshani Patel, medical director for breast surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Jersey Shore University Medical Center, in Neptune City, New Jersey. Patel says having three (or more) of the five conditions that make up what is known as metabolic syndrome puts you at higher risk for breast cancer, along with a variety of other health conditions like stroke and heart disease, so she tries to help patients address any of the factors that play a role in metabolic syndrome, which include:

Excess weight in the midsection (commonly called belly fat)
Elevated triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood)
Low levels of HDL cholesterol (often called the “good” cholesterol)
Elevated blood sugar levels
High blood pressure

“Even women who aren’t technically overweight but have a high body-fat percentage may face this same risk,” says Dr. Brooke Bussard, author of Outsmarting Menopause and a nutrition and fitness coach in Baltimore. “So, it’s not just about the number on the scale — it’s about how much fat tissue is present.”

Why is weight gain common during menopause?

According to the CDC, many women may gain weight before, during and after menopause. This weight gain may be caused by declining levels of the beneficial estrogen called estradiol. Changes related to aging, such as decreased muscle mass and lower activity levels, also contribute, the Mayo Clinic says.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who are overweight have a higher risk for developing 13 different cancers, including breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and doctors say fat cells are likely the main culprit.

“Fat cells can be thought of as ‘feeding’ cancer,” says Dr. Melanie Marin, director of the Menopause Program in the Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Mount Sinai Health System, in New York City, who notes that an excess of fat cells increases inflammation in the body, which in turn increases the risk of many types of cancer.

Not surprisingly, hormones also play a role. “Fat cells store and produce an estrogen called estrone,” says Marin, and excess estrogen of that type increases the risk of breast cancer.

Reducing your breast cancer risk

Some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, are out of an individual’s control, so doctors urge women to think about areas where they do have some control and can take steps to lessen their risk.

When it comes to weight as a risk factor — especially during perimenopause and menopause, when many women experience weight gain — Patel advises her patients to engage in some form of aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes a week.

She also recommends strength training because it can help with bone density, which is a concern for postmenopausal women. “And then eating a balanced plate will also help with metabolic issues,” says Patel.

Minimizing alcohol intake and avoiding smoking are two additional changes Bussard recommends to lower breast cancer risk (and that for other health issues).

“A plant-based diet rich in fiber and antioxidants has also been shown to reduce risk,” she says. “Think of lifestyle as a tool kit — movement, food choices and avoiding harmful habits all work together to lower your risk.”

Early detection is important

With any type of cancer, early detection makes a big difference in determining treatment options and long-term prognosis. Mammogram recommendations are already based on the increasing risk of cancer as we age, Marin says, so you should not plan for more than one mammogram per year for routine screening, even if you’re past menopause.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women begin annual mammograms at age 40, and says those 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year or continue with annual screenings, depending on their doctor’s recommendations.

Patel notes that many medical facilities now offer 3D mammography, which can produce higher-quality images and may reduce the need for callbacks for further testing.

“One of the criticisms of mammography is that women were getting a lot of callbacks, and that increases anxiety,” she says. “I mean, it’s happened to me, and I wasn’t excited about it.”

While radiology tools like mammography are important in detecting breast cancer, Patel says self-exams (ideally on a monthly basis) are extremely important, because women who check their breasts frequently and become familiar with their body are more likely to notice small changes during the early stages.

What to tell — and ask — your doctor

Good communication with your doctor is also important so they can properly assess your breast cancer risk and provide the best advice on screenings or any other necessary testing, which, Patel notes, may sometimes include genetic testing for those with a strong family history of cancer.

That’s why it’s imperative to share details about your family history with your doctor during the initial visit and keep them updated on any new incidences of cancer in your family.

You can also ask your doctor for advice on any lifestyle changes — including diet and exercise recommendations — that might help decrease your breast cancer risk.

“While only about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are linked to inherited mutations, your everyday choices play a major role,” says Bussard. “In fact, the [American Medical Association] now encourages providers to educate patients about how diet can reduce breast cancer risk, including support for plant-based eating. It’s great to see prevention in the plan along with early detection and treatment. Your lifestyle is just as important as your genes — maybe more so.”

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Bobbi Dempsey is a freelance writer who has written about a variety of topics, including health and entertainment, for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Parade, The New York Times, Harper’s and other outlets.