# DISTRIBUTION OF BODY FAT AND CANCER RISK IN WOMEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 1989 · $214,790

## Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in postmenopausal women.
Therefore, detailed investigations are warranted to identify potentially
modifiable risk factors for cancer.  This project will characterize the
relationship between topographical distribution of body fat and risks of
endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and total mortality in postmenopausal
women.  The project has two components.  In a longitudinal cohort study
25,000 Iowa women ages 55-69 years will be recruited by mail.  Subjects
will complete a questionnaire on cancer risk and perform self-measurements
of body weight, height, and girths.  The cohort will be followed four years
for incidence rates of endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and total
mortality.  Incidence will be ascertained via the Iowa Cancer Surveillance
Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, and mortality, via the
National Death Index.  It is hypothesized that those with "upper body" fat
predominance (high ratios of waist to hip girths) will have higher
incidences of study endpoints than those with "lower body" fat predominance
(low waist to hip girth ratios).  A cross-sectional study will also be
performed comparing serum levels of estrone, estradiol, testosterone,
androstenedione, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in 25
postmenopausal women with obesity and "upper body" fat predominance versus
25 with obesity and "lower body" fat predominance versus 25 nonobese
controls.  It is hypothesized that the obese women will have higher serum
levels of free estrone, free estradiol, free testosterone, and
androstenedione, and lower levels of SHBG than nonobese women, but those
with "upper body" fat predominance will have more extreme hormone levels
than those with "lower body" fat predominance.  The proposed project,
therefore, will provide new information on the relationship between body
fat distribution and cancer risk.  This information could be valuable in
the primary prevention of disease in women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179126
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039742-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KABJZBBJ4B54
- **Principal Investigator:** AARON R FOLSOM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $214,790
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-07-01 → 1990-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179126

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179126, DISTRIBUTION OF BODY FAT AND CANCER RISK IN WOMEN (5R01CA039742-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179126. Licensed CC0.

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