Adiposity and dietary indicators in premenopausal and postmenopausal women attending a breast cancer screening service in Peru

Zea-Linares G.; Ballon-Salcedo C.; Lazo L.; Daga R. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2026) · DOI: 10.12873/461ballon

Resumen

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Peru and worldwide. In addition to screening and early detection, lifestyle-related factors such as adiposity and dietary behaviors are relevant in cancer prevention. However, data describing these indicators in Latin American women attending screening services remain limited. Objective: To compare anthropometric and dietary indicators between premenopausal and postmenopausal Peruvian women attending screening mammography, and to explore their distribution according to mammographic classification. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 99 women attending the League Against Cancer in Arequipa, Peru. Anthropometric and dietary indicators potentially associated with breast cancer risk were assessed using food frequency questionnaires and standardized anthropometric measurements. Comparative and exploratory analyses were performed to examine differences according to menopausal status and to describe patterns of adiposity and lifestyle-related risk indicators. Results: The median age was 50 years, 40.4% of participants were premenopausal and 59.6% were postmenopausal. Most participants had BI-RADS classifications ≤ 2, limiting exploratory analyses of mammographic findings. A high prevalence of central and total adiposity was observed in the overall sample: 80.8% had a waist circumference ≥ 88 cm, 82.8% had fat mass ≥ 33.8%, and 97.9% had relative fat mass ≥ 33.9%. Most participants reported low intake of red and processed meat, alcohol, and sugary beverages, while added sugar consumption was relatively frequent. Anthropometric and dietary indicators were similar between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Conclusion: In this screened population, central and total adiposity were highly prevalent despite relatively low self-reported intake of several selected dietary risk-related items. These findings are descriptive and highlight the need for larger prospective studies with validated instruments to examine how adiposity and lifestyle patterns relate to mammographic findings and breast cancer risk in Latin American women.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa