Abstract
<jats:p>Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the United Kingdom and globally, but there are large geographic variations in incidence. The majority of breast cancers in the United Kingdom and other Western countries occur in postmenopausal women, with 20% amongst premenopausal women. Observational data consistently link overweight and obesity, adult weight gain, sedentary lifestyle and alcohol intake to increased risk of breast cancer amongst women. Hereditary factors are linked to a quarter of breast cancer cases. In the United Kingdom and other countries with breast screening, approximately 76% of cancers are localised to the breast at the time of diagnosis, 8% have local lymph involvement and 5% are metastatic. Nutritional assessment at diagnosis and during treatment includes anthropometry, biochemistry, clinical/physical assessment, dietary assessment, and environmental/behavioural/social assessment. Diet modification, weight control and physical activity have three potential roles for patients with breast cancer alongside standard medical management.</jats:p>