Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index and Risk for Ovarian Cancer in a Cohort Study

Purpose Reported associations between ovarian cancer and body size are inconsistent. We assessed ovarian cancer and anthropometry in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project Follow-Up Study. Methods The 46,026 participants completed a baseline interview and mailed questionnaires between 1979 and 1998. By using multiple sources, we identified 346 incident ovarian cancers during follow-up. We calculated rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate relative risks for developing ovarian cancer associated with height and weight (measured 1973 to 1980) and self-reported current and usual adult weight (collected during follow-up). Results Neither taller height (≥66 versus <62 inches; RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.64–1.26) nor greater weight (≥161 versus ≤120 lbs; RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.77–1.55) was associated with ovarian cancer. Compared with normal weight (body mass index [BMI], 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI, 25 to 29.9 kg/m2; RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.78–1.29) and obesity (BMI, 30 to 34.9 kg/m2; RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.59–1.48) were not associated with ovarian cancer. Severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) produced a nonsignificantly elevated RR (1.55; 95% CI, 0.84–2.84). Associations with histologic types and statistical interactions with menopausal status and hormone therapy use were null. Conclusions Based on height and weight measured before baseline, overweight and obesity were not significantly associated with ovarian cancer in this cohort.