Good Sleep May Reduce Belly Fat and Lower Breast Cancer Risk, Health Experts Say
Islamabad (Daily Qudrat) – Health experts highlight that **adequate sleep can help reduce belly fat**, which in turn may lower the risk of breast cancer.
Research indicates that in India, breast cancer cases among women are increasing at an alarming **annual rate of 6 percent**. Experts attribute this rise to **insufficient sleep, chronic stress, and increasing obesity**, with even younger women being increasingly affected.
Recent studies identify **poor sleep, chronic stress, and abdominal fat** as key contributing factors for breast cancer in women. Lifestyle and metabolic changes are reshaping these risks, prompting calls for awareness, preventive education, and risk-based screening beyond conventional mammography.
Experts explain that **lack of sleep affects melatonin hormone secretion, estrogen balance, immune system regulation, and DNA repair processes**, all of which can contribute to cancer risk. While poor sleep alone is not the sole cause, when combined with obesity, chronic stress, physical inactivity, and sedentary habits, the risk multiplies significantly.
Although unchangeable factors like age or genetic predisposition remain the strongest predictors, **sleep is emerging as a critical modifiable risk factor**. Clinically, women who experience prolonged sleep deprivation, night-shift work, stress, and metabolic disturbances are observed to have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer.
Experts emphasize that adopting **healthy sleep habits and lifestyle adjustments** can play an important role in reducing breast cancer risk and improving overall health.
