New medical studies suggest that obesity in women creates barriers to getting mammograms. In fact, the study that was recently published in the Journal of Women’s Health found that women are less likely to make the effort to get screened if they are obese because the procedure is more painful.

It’s one more reason why JSAPA Weight Loss Surgery can prevent many healthcare hurdles for women as they age. Many healthcare professionals cite concern over this trend with the obese, suggesting that it should create a sense of urgency in the healthcare industry.

Research shows that the probability of a woman getting breast cancer and dying from it is much higher in the obese population. Specifically, the National Cancer Institute has determined that the risk of obese women developing breast cancer after menopause is 1.5 times greater than the general population.

Consider that statistics from the American Cancer Society reveal that 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year, and healthcare professionals agree that currently the best tool for preventing this problem is the mammogram screening process. Knowledge is power, and weight loss in aging women becomes more important than ever if it means better prevention of this disease.

The recommended age for women to begin screenings varies between 40 and 50. If you have reached one of these mile markers and find that weight may hinder your efforts towards preventative measure to breast cancer, then the time to implement strategies to lose weight are now.