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Introduction
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has the potential to reduce both cancer- and non-cancer-related morbidity. In particular, physical activity may reduce the risk of several types of cancer, including bladder, breast, colon, endometrium (lining of the uterus), esophagus (adenocarcinoma), kidney, and stomach. Physical activity may also lower a person’s risk of other health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis (bone thinning). Being active may also help to prevent weight gain and obesity, which can reduce the risk of developing cancers that have been linked to excess body weight.
Physical activity also improves the quality of life among cancer patients and survivors. For people with colorectal cancer, women with breast cancer, and men with prostate cancer, greater amounts of physical activity are associated with reduced risk of morality from the original type of cancer. For people with colorectal cancer and women with breast cancer, greater amounts of physical activity are also associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality.
Several national groups offer recommendations for engaging in regular physical activity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 1 hour of physical activity every day for children and adolescents, and 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, for adults each week. Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week.
Measure
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported no leisure-time physical activity during the past month and percentage of adults who meet both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines.
Healthy People 2020 Target
- Reduce the percentage of adults who engage in no leisure-time physical activity to 32.6 percent.
- Increase the proportion of adults who meet the objectives for aerobic physical activity and for muscle-strengthening activity to 20.1 percent.
Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.
Data Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey 1992–2018.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
No Leisure Time Physical Activity
By Sex
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Both Sexes
|
25.4 | 24.4 - 26.5 |
Male
|
23.0 | 21.8 - 24.3 | |
Female
|
27.7 | 26.4 - 29.1 | |
By Race/Ethnicity
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
All Races
|
25.4 | 24.4 - 26.5 |
Non-Hispanic White
|
21.7 | 20.6 - 22.9 | |
Non-Hispanic Black
|
34.0 | 31.3 - 36.7 | |
Hispanic
|
34.1 | 31.6 - 36.7 | |
By Poverty Income Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
<200% of federal poverty level
|
38.9 | 37.1 - 40.7 |
>=200% of federal poverty level
|
20.4 | 19.3 - 21.5 | |
By Education Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Less than High School
|
47.7 | 44.8 - 50.7 |
High School
|
35.2 | 33.3 - 37.2 | |
Greater than High School
|
19.7 | 18.7 - 20.8 | |
Meet Federal Guidelines
By Sex
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Both Sexes
|
23.8 | 23.0 - 24.6 |
Male
|
27.1 | 26.0 - 28.3 | |
Female
|
20.6 | 19.6 - 21.6 | |
By Race/Ethnicity
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
All Races
|
23.8 | 23.0 - 24.6 |
Non-Hispanic White
|
25.6 | 24.5 - 26.6 | |
Non-Hispanic Black
|
20.2 | 18.1 - 22.5 | |
Hispanic
|
21.2 | 19.4 - 23.0 | |
By Poverty Income Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
<200% of federal poverty level
|
14.8 | 13.7 - 15.9 |
>=200% of federal poverty level
|
27.3 | 26.3 - 28.3 | |
By Education Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Less than High School
|
9.6 | 8.1 - 11.3 |
High School
|
14.4 | 13.2 - 15.8 | |
Greater than High School
|
27.3 | 26.3 - 28.3 | |
Evidence-based Resources
Resources are available on physical activity on the Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. web portal. Learn about evidence-based practices, federal guidelines, intervention strategies and evidence-based interventions.
Additional Information on Physical Activity
For the public
- Physical Activity and Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention. American Cancer Society.
- Cancer Prevention and Control: Healthy Choices. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Physical Activity Basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Scientific reports
- Effects of physical activity on breast cancer prevention: a systemic review. Goncalves AK, Florencio G LD, Maisonette de Atayde Silva MJ, et al. J Phys Act Health 2014;11(2):445–54.
- Adherence to diet and physical activity cancer prevention guidelines and cancer outcomes: a systematic review. Kohler LN, Garcia DO, Harris RB et al. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(7):1018-28.
- American Cancer Society Guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity. Kushi LH, Doyle C, McCullough M, et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012;62(1):30–67.
- The role of physical activity in cancer prevention, treatment, recovery, and survivorship. Lemanne D, Cassileth B, Gubili J. Oncology 2013;27(6):580–5.
- Physical activity and breast cancer prevention. Lynch BM, Neilson HK, and Friedenreich CM. Recent Results Cancer Res 2011;186:13–42.
- Association of leisure-time physical activity with risk of 26 types of cancer in 1.44 million adults. Moore SC, Min Lee I, Weiderpass E et al. JAMA Intern Med 2016;176(6):816-825.
- Recent advances in the link between physical activity, sedentary behavior, physical fitness, and colorectal cancer. Namasivayam V, Lim S F1000Res 2017;6(F1000Faculty Rev):199.
- Nutrition and physical activity cancer prevention guidelines, cancer risk, and mortality in the women’s health initiative. Thomson CA, McCullough ML, Wertheim BC, et al. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2014;1:42–53.
- 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report. Part F. Chapter 4. Cancer Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. F4-2 – F4-67.
- Diet, nutrition, physical activity, and cancer: a global perspective. World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Statistics
- FastStats – Exercise or Physical Activity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.