Although there is nothing you can do to definitively avoid developing breast cancer, there are still measures you can take to lower your risk of developing the disease. According to a new study by the University of Granada, managing your weight could be one preventive measure.

Researchers studied 524 women who had breast cancer. They found that both obese women (especially those determined to have morbid obesity) and women who first got their periods between the ages of 9 and 10 exhibited a tendency to develop the cancer at a younger age. These findings were contrary to previous studies linking a higher body mass index (BMI) with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer.

Of course, these two factors (obesity and menstruation age) are certainly not the only ones to be considered; genetics and family history also affect the likelihood of breast cancer—early breast cancer at that. And while there is little to nothing women can do about their genetics or the age at which they began menstruating, working toward a fit and healthy body is something that is within our control. In addition, women who fall under the risk categories mentioned should make it a point to perform regular breast self-exams and, if they choose, get regular screenings for the cancer via a mammogram.

If you’re looking to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle, you may want to check out the following articles on FN:

• 6 Easy Tricks to Help You Eat Healthier
• Pound Patrol: 7 Bad Eating Habits You Should Drop to Control Your Weight
• Think Right, Eat Right: 8 Tips for Keeping Your Weight in Check
• Watch What You Eat: 5 Food Culprits You Should Be Wary Of
• 10 Bad Health Habits You Should Drop ASAP

For more articles on breast cancer, read the following:

• Health News: An absence of lumps doesn't always mean you don't have breast cancer
• 3 Things You May Not Know about Breast Cancer from Good Housekeeping
• Tetta Ortiz-Matera: Model, Writer, and Breast Cancer Advocate
• What Every Woman Should Know about Breast Cancer

(Main photo by Caitlin Regan/Caitlinator via Flickr Creative Commons; breast cancer awareness ribbon by MesserWoland via Wikimedia Commons)