Obesity promotes the development of insulin resistance and increases the incidence of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), but whether a blunted insulin action specifically in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) affects CAC is unknown. Here, we show that obesity impairs insulin sensitivity in IECs and that mice with IEC-specific inactivation of the insulin and IGF1 receptors exhibit enhanced CAC development as a consequence of impaired restoration of gut barrier function.