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Adults with a history of cancer are less likely to be physically active than those without a cancer history, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis.

The study, "Trends in Physical Activity by Cancer History in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Adults," published in the journal AJPM Focus, analyzed data from more than 2 million U.S. adults collected from 2018–2024.

Researchers from the Brown School and Bursky School of Public Health found that physical activity increased among both groups during the study period, but cancer survivors consistently reported lower levels of physical activity.

"Regular physical activity is important to everyone, but even more so for cancer survivors," said Amy Eyler, a professor at the WashU Brown School and co-author of the study. "A growing body of evidence suggests that regular physical activity after a cancer diagnosis is associated with many health benefits, including reduced cancer-related fatigue, better overall quality of life, improved physical fitness and functioning, and improved mental health."

U.S. guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week for adults. But the researchers emphasize that physical activity recommendations for cancer survivors should be individualized based on their health, abilities and treatment effects.

Kim Johnson, a professor at the Brown School and co-author of the study, said the goal should be to help survivors find activity they can safely incorporate into their lives.

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