PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 50 to 69 Sex: Female Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: At least 2 years since menopause In general good health Increased body fat (125%-175% of ideal body weight) Increased upper body fat (waist-to-hip circumference ratio greater than 0.85) Serum estradiol greater than 13 picograms per milliliter