Older women sporting a bit of a belly don't face a significantly higher risk of breast cancer.

The finding, reported in a study in the current online edition of the International Journal of Cancer, should come as a relief to the many women who battle those few extra pounds as they age.

German doctors wanted to find out if abdominal obesity made it more likely a postmenopausal woman would suffer breast cancer.

They found waist circumference was not significantly linked to increased breast cancer risk.

However, researchers found that general obesity is linked to breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

The researchers also studied the impact of hormone-replacement therapy. They found women using the therapy who were not obese had a greater chance of contracting breast cancer. Obese women showed no increased risk from the therapy.

More information
What is Breast Cancer?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about breast cancer.

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