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Regular Exercise Tied to Better Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors

Yet study shows few African-American cancer survivors meet recommended activity goals

MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Despite benefits in quality of life, fewer than one in four African-American cancer survivors report meeting recommended levels of weekly physical activity, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in Cancer.

Jennifer L. Beebe-Dimmer, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit, and colleagues assessed baseline and yearly follow-up surveys from 1,500 African-American participants in the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors study regarding health and health behaviors, including physical activity.

The researchers found that 60 percent of respondents reported participating in regular physical activity, with 24 percent reporting the recommended ≥150 minutes/week. While overall there were no differences by sex, prostate cancer survivors were the most likely to report participating in regular physical activity and lung cancer survivors were the least likely. Regular physical activity was associated with higher health-related quality of life and less depression.

“Because of the established benefits of regular exercise observed in this study and others, identifying and reducing barriers to regular physical activity among African-American cancer survivors are critical for improving outcomes and minimizing disparities,” the authors write.

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