Food and Agricultural Immunology

Nutritional Science in the Obesity-Cancer Connection: Insights and Innovations

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, presenting significant challenges to public health systems and contributing to numerous medical complications. Among its extensive consequences, the intricate relationship between obesity and cancer has been the focus of increasing scientific attention, underscoring the urgent need to address this dual burden effectively. The underlying mechanisms, such as chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and microbiome alterations, associated with obesity, play critical roles in cancer initiation, progression, and prognosis. Nutrition emerges as a central pillar in mitigating these risks, offering vital pathways for prevention, therapeutic intervention, and long-term disease management. This article collection seeks to explore the complex interactions between obesity, nutrition, and cancer, including a variety of research efforts ranging from molecular studies and clinical interventions to population-based strategies. By connecting basic science, translational approaches, and public health policies, this article collection aims to advance understanding and develop innovative, evidence-based approaches to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals and communities worldwide.

This topic is critical because obesity affects more than one billion people worldwide and is widely recognized as a significant risk factor for the development of several types of cancers, including breast, colon, endometrial, and pancreatic cancers. The mechanisms linking obesity and cancer, such as chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances, highlight the urgent need for integrative research across the fields of obesity, nutrition, and oncology. Despite important progress, there are significant knowledge gaps, particularly in understanding these complex interactions and implementing effective prevention and treatment strategies. By addressing these challenges, this article collection aims to expand scientific insight, evaluate preventive and innovative interventions, and promote novel approaches to public health policy. Through the contributions of various authors, we strive to compile robust evidence to support comprehensive, interdisciplinary approaches. This effort will contribute to improving health outcomes, reducing the global burden of obesity and cancer, and paving the way for a healthier future.

This article collection will delve into the interrelated mechanisms linking obesity, nutrition, and cancer, highlighting how dietary and metabolic factors influence cancer development, progression, and treatment in the context of obesity. We invite researchers to contribute their work in the following formats: narrative and systematic reviews, mini-reviews, and original research articles, focusing on, but not restricted to, the topics below:

• Biological mechanisms: The roles of inflammation, insulin resistance, microbiome dysbiosis, and their roles in carcinogenesis.
• Nutritional strategies: Dietary approaches for the prevention and management of cancer in individuals with Obesity.
• Clinical perspectives: The impact of Obesity on cancer treatment and long-term outcomes.
• Public health and policies: Interventions and programs aimed at reducing obesity- and cancer-related risk

Keywords: Obesity, Nutrition, Cancer, Inflammation, Public Health

Guest Advisors

Dr. Evelyn Paola Frias-Toral, MD is a medical doctor specialized in Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, holds master’s degrees in Clinical Research-Epidemiology and Hospital Administration. She is an associate professor, researcher, and active member of international clinical nutrition committees and journals, with 90+ peer-reviewed publications. Her research focuses on obesity, malnutrition, the Mediterranean diet, and vitamin D. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2228-0141.

Dr. Florencia Ceriani Infantozzi, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Nutrition at the University of the Republic, where she has been actively engaged in teaching and research for over a decade. She holds a PhD in Science from the Federal University of Pelotas and specializes in maternal and child nutrition, food security, and chronic disease prevention. As President of the Uruguayan Nutrition Support Network and Child Development (RUANDI), she plays a key role in advancing public health initiatives. Dr. Ceriani is also a reviewer for Clinical Nutrition ESPEN and has contributed extensively to research on dietary habits, nutritional epidemiology, and public health policy in Uruguay. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2105-8044.

Disclosure statement: Both Guest Advisors declare no conflict of interest.

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo desk assessment and peer-review as part of our standard editorial process; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope  and author submission instructions  prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is October 31st, 2025.

Please contact Ruby Ru at ruby.ru@taylorandfrancis.com  with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

To submit your papers to this Article Collection, please:

1. Check "yes" for the question, "Are you submitting your paper for a specific special issue or article collection?"
2. Select the relevant Article Collection from the drop-down menu under the question, "Special Issue or Article Collection Name."