February 25, 2026
The University of Kansas Cancer Center has launched a new research program focused on understanding the connection between obesity and cancer and on developing interventions to improve metabolic health. It is the first such research program at any National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in the United States.
Members of the cancer center’s Obesity, Metabolic Health and Cancer research program will come from a variety of disciplines, including molecular biology, biochemistry, exercise and physical activity science, physiology, nutrition and population health.
Obesity is one of the most significant and preventable risk factors for cancer, and it is projected to overtake tobacco as the leading cause of malignancies. “There is strong epidemiological data linking obesity to the development of at least 13 different types of cancer,” said Dr. Brown. “And it’s expected that that number will grow as we have a better understanding of not only the types of cancer that are influenced, but also the different populations that potentially are affected differently, as well as the different subtypes of cancer.”
More than 41% of U.S. adults have obesity, and nearly 70% of people living in KU Cancer Center’s catchment area have obesity or are overweight. And people with the most severe obesity constitute the fastest-growing segment of the overweight population, noted John Jakicic, PhD, co-program leader and professor of physical activity and weight management. “That’s a big part of the concern - that we are not turning back the hands of time, that it’s actually getting worse at the higher end,” he said. Obesity affects more than just the risk of getting cancer; it impacts “every single aspect of the cancer continuum,” noted Dr. Brown. Obesity also can inhibit cancer detection and fuel the growth of tumors. Moreover, “the effectiveness of treatment, or how much treatment someone needs, may actually be affected by the amount of adiposity (body fat) that person has,” said Dr. Jakicic. “So, it’s not just about a risk factor for the disease, it may actually affect the effectiveness of care.”
The new research program will bring together scientists and clinicians to understand the biology of how obesity affects all parts of this continuum. Together, they will work to improve metabolic health and break the cancer-obesity link by developing exercise, nutrition and pharmacological interventions.
Below are some examples of work related to obesity and cancer already happening at the cancer center:
- Breast cancer researcher Carol Fabian, MD, and obesity expert Cathleen Beaver, MD, are conducting a first-of-its-kind pilot study looking at the effect of weight loss aided by the use of tirzepatide, known by the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound, on reducing the risk of breast cancer in women with obesity.
- The iAmHealthy Parents First Study, led by Christie Befort, PhD, associate director for Cancer Prevention and Control, and Ann Davis, PhD, MPH, professor of pediatrics, provides families in rural areas, where obesity is more common, with health education and online support for healthy lifestyles.
- Jennifer Davis, PhD, assistant professor of cancer biology, and her team are studying how diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction, such as high blood sugar and insulin resistance, affect tumor growth and spread.
- Dr. Brown’s lab is looking at whether lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight loss can restore mitochondrial function and reduce breast cancer risk.
- Michael VanSaun, PhD, associate professor of cancer biology, is studying how obesity-driven pancreatic tumors fuel themselves, and how disrupting their energy supply might slow or stop their growth.