184. The Obesity–Cancer Connection: What Every Patient Needs to Know with Dr. Neil Naik

In this episode, Dr. Neil Naik and I unpack a foundational question—is obesity actually linked to cancer, and what’s really driving that connection? We explore the underlying biology, from chronic inflammation and insulin resistance to the hormonal activity of adipose tissue, and why visceral fat may matter more than we think.

We then move beyond risk and into what happens after a diagnosis—how obesity can influence treatment response, toxicity, dosing, and outcomes across chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. The conversation also highlights the often-overlooked phase of survivorship, including the role of metabolic health in recurrence risk and long-term prognosis.

We close by discussing where emerging therapies like GLP-1 medications fit, how clinicians can move beyond BMI toward more individualized care, and how to talk about the obesity–cancer connection in a way that informs without adding shame.

My Guest Dr. Neil Naik

Dr. Neil Naik, a family physician, educator, and innovator based in Waterloo, Ontario. Trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, he completed residencies in Newfoundland and Nunavut and holds an Executive MBA from Ivey, where he focused on technology-driven healthcare innovation.

He runs a Family Practice and an obesity medicine clinic in Waterloo, along with an AI-enabled skin cancer screening program, while teaching medical students at both McMaster University and the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Naik advises startups, leads regional primary care and cancer prevention initiatives, and champions universal healthcare, leveraging AI to make safe, high-quality care accessible to everyone, everywhere.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-naik/