Abstract
Increased body mass index (BMI) is considered a risk factor for breast cancer. Moreover, it is associated with an unfavorable prognosis of the disease. Overweight and obesity are a global public health problem. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the risk factor of high BMI in breast cancer patients through an observational study of patients diagnosed with mammary neoplasm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was performed on a sample of 172 women with breast cancer with a mean age of 58.8 (±SD) years and a control sample of 217 women without breast cancer with a mean age of 54 (±SD) years. Data collection was performed by questionnaires and by anthropometric measurements, during 2017-2021. Statistical analysis used numerical descriptive methods: mean, standard deviation, etc. and graphical methods. RESULTS: The sample of women with breast cancer compared to the control sample showed differences in BMI (26.27 vs. 24.45 kg/m(2)), p=0.001. CONCLUSION: Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer. This risk factor for breast cancer could be altered by the quality of the diet and by the adoption of an active lifestyle.