Skirt size increase linked to breast cancer risk, study finds

Women who go up a skirt size every decade between their 20s and their 60s may be at increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that an increase of one size every 10 years led to a 33 percent rise in the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, while an increase of two sizes per decade let to a 77 percent rise in risk, according to the study in the journal BMJ Open.

Although other studies have looked at the impact of weight on breast cancer risk this is the first study to look at weight gain — and with a measure that is easily assessed by women and their doctors.