New York, Jun 7 (IANS): While unhealthy weight gain after menopause may put you at increased risk of breast cancer, a lot may depend on the the type of fat that makes up fatty breast tissue, says a study.

The researchers found that higher proportion of saturated fatty acids in breast of post menopausal women may particularly increase the risk.

Saturated fats comes from animal products like cheese, fatty meats, and dairy desserts and tropical oils like palm oil, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and prevention (CDC).

The results of the study, published online in the journal Radiology, may help researchers determine the underlying mechanisms behind breast cancer development in some patients.

The role of fat in breast cancer development and growth has been studied extensively using body mass index (BMI) and dietary fat intake.

But the exact mechanism behind the increased risk in postmenopausal women with higher BMI is not fully understood.