More than three-fourths of first-time breast cancer diagnoses are made in postmenopausal women. And a new study shows that 40% of hormone-positive breast cancer cases in those women can be linked to carrying around excess body fat.

That makes the risks of putting on postmenopausal pounds -- the average is about a pound-and-a-half every year -- extra risky business. But you can't entirely blame those added pounds on the loss of hormones. At the same time that women experience menopause, they tend to reduce their level of physical activity and experience loss of muscle mass.

Whatever the combination of causes, it's clear that added weight not only increases the risk for heart disease, breathing problems and diabetes, but cancer, too. Fortunately, you can fight back against the symptoms of menopause and reverse or prevent obesity.

-- Reduce your calorie intake and increase your enjoyment of metabolism-fueling foods such as lentils, flaxseeds, ginger, green tea and coffee, dark green leafy vegetables, and broccoli. Plus, add a 16-ounce glass of water to the start of every meal.

-- Enjoy two strength-building sessions a week and get 10,000 steps or the equivalent every day, no excuses.

-- Talk to your doctor about taking bioidentical estrogen and micronized progesterone hormone therapy -- now known to be generally safe and effective at decreasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, memory loss, osteoporosis and accumulation of belly fat. And ask your doc about taking two low-dose aspirins daily (drink water before and after) along with the hormone therapy to reduce clotting risks.

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).