
in the UF Department of Health Services Research, Management & Policy
The Florida Department of Health has awarded funds from the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program to a UF research team led by assistant professor Dr. Young-Rock Hong. The three-year grant will allow the team to study the impacts of obesity on colorectal cancer.
As the second most-prevalent killer among cancers for both men and women, colorectal cancer remains a deadly threat.
The main focus of the study will help determine the varying factors – physical, economic, policy, social, and cultural – that can contribute to obesity and how these factors might increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Approximately 40% of Florida’s population is currently affected by obesity, with numbers continuing to climb. In response, a new study will investigate the relationship between colorectal cancer and the various physical, economic, policy, social, and cultural factors that contribute to obesity.
The primary objective of the study is to identify modifiable factors that increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer and impact the health outcomes of those diagnosed with the disease. The research will particularly focus on neighborhood factors, such as access to nutritious food and opportunities for physical activity, that influence obesity rates.
This comprehensive approach will enable researchers to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving colorectal cancer outcomes, reducing the strain on Florida’s healthcare system, and decreasing the overall incidence of colorectal cancer.