Women whose fathers are junk food junkies may be more likely to develop breast cancer, according to a surprising new study out the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The findings, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, are based on laboratory experiments that found the female offspring of male rats that ate diets high in animal fats were more likely to develop breast cancer, Medical News Today reports.

The study also found the female offspring of male rats that consumed a diet high in vegetable fats had a reduced breast cancer risk.

"If this is confirmed in human studies, potential breast cancer prevention strategies could be developed focusing on fathers' diets during preconception," said lead researcher Thomas Ong.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States; one in eight American women will develop the disease in their lifetime.

Fast facts about breast cancer
•    In 2016, around 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S.
•    More than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year
•    There are currently around 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.