Association Between Regular Exercise and Cancer Risk: Insights from NHANES 2017-2018

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity is associated with reduced risk for several chronic diseases; however, its association with cancer remains unclear, with mixed findings across literature. This study investigates the relationship between exercise status and cancer diagnosis in a representative sample of U.S. adults, hypothesizing that regular physical activity is inversely associated with cancer diagnosis, independent of demographic and lifestyle factors.

Methods: Data from the 2017–2018 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed, including 5,246 participants after exclusion of cases with missing data. Exercise status, based on self-reported moderate or vigorous recreational activity, was the primary exposure variable, and history of cancer diagnosis was the outcome. Logistic regression models were used, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, annual family income, education level, obesity, and alcohol consumption.

Results: Exercise was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of cancer diagnosis (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65–0.99, p = 0.039). Increasing age and non-Hispanic White race were positively associated with cancer diagnosis. When alcohol consumption was included as a covariate, the association between exercise and cancer diagnosis became non-significant, suggesting alcohol may confound the observed relationship.

Discussion: These findings suggest a potential protective role of physical activity in reducing cancer risk; however, the effect of other lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption, complicates this association. Future longitudinal and interventional studies with objective measures of physical activity are necessary to further elucidate these relationships and inform preventive strategies for cancer.