Jennifer W Bea, PhD
Cancer Prevention and Control Program
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Associate Professor, Health Promotion Sciences
Biography
Jennifer W. Bea, PhD is a physiological scientist, focused on body composition and chronic disease research, with an emphasis on cancer. She is currently Co-director for the Body Composition Research Laboratory, a member of UACC Cancer Prevention and Control, and a member of the Collaboratory for Metabolic Disease Prevention and Treatment at UA. As an expert in body composition imaging, lifestyle interventions, circulating biomarkers, and genetics, Dr. Bea has made significant strides in understanding how to tailor interventions to optimize body composition and health, particularly among underserved communities.
Cancer Focus
Dr. Bea has evaluated risk factors for cancer across the lifespan, lifestyle, and obesity being predominate. Among many contributions to interventional cancer prevention and control (CPC) are Dr. Bea’s investigations into weight loss, and separately, resistance training on metabolic regulation and change in body composition among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. Dr. Bea recently led a seminal physical activity intervention among male and female Native American cancer survivors called, “Restoring Balance in Indian Country,” which included family members of the cancer survivors to support cancer prevention. She has also significantly contributed to understanding early markers of cancer risk, such as excess adiposity, metabolic dysfunction and inflammation among young girls. Cancer prevention and control training is a passion for Dr. Bea. She previously coordinated the CPC postdoctoral fellowship and is now M-PI of STEP-UP, an R25 CPC training program for underrepresented undergraduate and early graduate students, and the Research Education Core Lead for the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention.
Selected Publications
Bea, J. W., C-H. Hsu, R. M. Blew, A. P. Irving, B. J. Caan, M. L. Kwan, I. Abraham, and S. B. Going, "Use of iDXA spine scans to evaluate total and visceral abdominal fat.", Am J Hum Biol, vol. 30, issue 1, 2018 Jan. PMCID: PMC5785430 PMID: 28884861
Bea, J. W., H. Dirk de Heer, L. Valdez, B. Kinslow, E. Yazzie, M. C. Lee, P. Nez, S. Dalgai, and A. Schwartz, "Physical Activity among Navajo Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study.", Am Indian Alsk Native Ment Health Res, vol. 25, issue 2, pp. 54-73, 2018. PMCID: PMC6322393 PMID: 29889948
Bea, J. W., J. Funk, M. Hetherington-Rauth, B. C. Wertheim, L. Mosquiera, R. Thuraisingam, V. Lee, R. Blew, T. Lohman, D. J. Roe, et al., "Anthropometry Versus Imaging for Prediction of Inflammation Among Hispanic Girls.", Obesity (Silver Spring), vol. 26, issue 10, pp. 1594-1602, 2018 Oct. PMCID: PMC6171347 PMID: 30277029
Schwartz, A. L., H. Dirk de Heer, and J. W. Bea, "Initiating Exercise Interventions to Promote Wellness in Cancer Patients and Survivors.", Oncology (Williston Park), vol. 31, issue 10, pp. 711-7, 2017 10 15. PMCID: PMC6361522 PMID: 29083464
Bea, J. W., C. A. Thomson, B. C. Wertheim, S. J Nicholas, K. C. Ernst, C. Hu, R. D. Jackson, J. A. Cauley, C. E. Lewis, B. Caan, et al., "Risk of Mortality According to Body Mass Index and Body Composition Among Postmenopausal Women.", Am J Epidemiol, vol. 182, issue 7, pp. 585-96, 2015 Oct 01. PMCID: PMC4715226 PMID: 26350478