Obesity & Cancer
The overall purpose of the Obesity and Cancer Section is to promote research, education and advocacy related to cancer, including: understanding how obesity affects etiology, prevention and management of cancer; the development of effective strategies, interventions and educational efforts that may reduce the impact of obesity on cancer risk and progression; and promote the dissemination of knowledge of the obesity-cancer relationship to the scientific community, clinicians and the public.
Goals
Research
- Facilitate networking among Section members and others to promote more research in obesity and cancer, across the continuum of research from cell and molecular biology, integrative biology, clinical studies, and population studies.
- Encourage members (and recruit new members) to submit abstracts relevant to obesity and cancer to The Obesity Society's Annual Scientific Meeting.
- Promote participation in TOS and cancer-obesity research among junior investigators and early career scientists.
Education
- Develop symposia concepts focused on obesity and cancer for The Obesity Society's Annual Scientific Meeting.
- Contribute to the Society's target clinicians, including participation in meeting clinician-professional practice sessions, to increase their awareness of the relationship between obesity and cancer risk and progression.
- Participate in the development and promote the dissemination of the American Cancer Society diet and physical activity prevention recommendations (To be updated in 2011)
Advocacy
- Communicate accurate information about the obesity-cancer relationship to professional and lay audiences, as a representative of the Society and the Section.
- Encourage the involvement of cancer researchers and advocates in obesity research and education, through membership in the Society and participation in Society activities.
News
Join the Obesity and Cancer Section
All section members must be a member of The Obesity Society.
If you are not a member of The Obesity Society, join today. Be certain to select the Obesity and Cancer Section when completing your profile.
If you are already a member and would like to join the Obesity and Cancer Section please login to your member profile and select the Obesity and Cancer Section. Once you have updated your profile, you will receive all communications pertaining to the section.
Please contact Sadie Campbell, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Governance and Executive Assistant if you have any questions.
Obesity & Cancer ListServ
Section Listservs are now available for TOS members! Listservs are a great place to find and to share knowledge and ideas. Sign up Today!
Member Listserv Rules & Etiquette
Leaders
Zora Djuric PhD (Chair 2011-2012)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Zora Djuric, Ph.D., is a Research Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Environmental Health Sciences (Nutrition Program) at the University of Michigan. She is also a member of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Djuric has been studying the role of dietary patterns on cancer risk reduction using biomarker endpoints for some time, focusing mainly on clinical intervention studies. These studies have typically included individuals at increased cancer risk. Her current focus is on colon cancer prevention using a Mediterranean exchange list diet. Dr. Djuric recently completed service on the Chemo and Dietary Prevention Study section for NIH. She became a Fellow Member of the TOS in 2005.
Cynthia Thomson, PhD, RD, CSO (Past Chair)
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cynthia Thomson, PhD, RD,CSO is an associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and a member of the Arizona Cancer Center. She holds joint appointments in the College of medicine and the College of Public Health. Dr. Thomson directs the Behavioral Measurements Shared Resource at the Arizona Cancer Center, supporting the measurement and evaluation of diet, physical activity and related behaviors for cancer prevention investigators. Dr. Thomson’s area of research includes dietary interventions for cancer prevention as well as weight control. She is interested in whole foods interventions as well as testing hypotheses related to the efficacy of bioactive food components to modify cancer risk. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and serves on three editorial boards. She is current chair of the national Women’s Health Initiative Publications and Presentations Committee and was recently nominated for the NIH Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. She joined TOS in 2009.
Alison Field (Council Liaison 2009-2012)
Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Alison E. Field, ScD is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School and an Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. She has been a member of TOS for 12 years and member of the Pediatric Obesity Section since its inception. In addition to her involvement in the Pediatric Section, she currently is a Member-at-Large of Council and a member of the TOS Program Planning Committee. Her research focuses on the modifiable causes of excessive weight gain, obesity, and disordered eating among children, adolescents, and adult women.
