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Physical Activity and Perceptions of the Community Walking Environment Among Cancer Survivors, National Health Interview Survey, 2024

ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 23 — October 22, 2026

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Unadjusted prevalence of leisure-time aerobic physical activity levels among self-reported cancer survivors by presence of community walking environment features that support walking in the local community. Physical activity levels are defined as inactive (0 minutes/week of aerobic activity), insufficiently active (1–149 minutes/week), or sufficiently active (≥150 minutes/week, ie, meeting federal guidelines). “Yes” indicates the presence of the support, and “No” indicates the absence of the support. Brackets indicate significant differences. Data source: National Health Interview Survey, 2024.
Support Unadjusted prevalence, %
Inactive Insufficient Sufficient
Walking routes
No 49.3 23.4 27.2
Yes 31.5 28.9 39.7
Sidewalks
No 38.8 27.2 34.0
Yes 30.2 28.9 40.9
Shopping
No 39.3 28.0 32.7
Yes 28.2 28.2 43.6
Transit
No 38.6 27.8 33.6
Yes 28.6 28.0 43.4
Relaxing
No 48.2 28.5 23.3
Yes 28.0 27.9 44.1
Other
No 37.7 29.6 32.8
Yes 28.4 25.9 45.7

 

Figure 1. Unadjusted prevalence of leisure-time aerobic physical activity levels among self-reported cancer survivors by presence of community walking environment features that support walking in the local community. Physical activity levels are defined as inactive (0 minutes/week of aerobic activity), insufficiently active (1–149 minutes/week), or sufficiently active (≥150 minutes/week, ie, meeting federal guidelines). “Yes” indicates the presence of the support, and “No” indicates the absence of the support. Brackets indicate significant differences. Data source: National Health Interview Survey, 2024.

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Unadjusted prevalence of leisure-time aerobic physical activity levels among self-reported cancer survivors by presence of community walking environment features that make it unsafe to walk (barriers) in the local community. Physical activity levels are defined as inactive (0 minutes/week of aerobic activity), insufficiently active (1–149 minutes/week), or sufficiently active (≥150 minutes/week, ie, meeting federal guidelines). “Yes” indicates the presence of the barrier, and “No” indicates the absence of the barrier. Brackets indicate significant differences. Data source: National Health Interview Survey, 2024.
Barrier Unadjusted prevalence, %
Inactive Insufficient Sufficient
Traffic
No 32.1 28.9 39.0
Yes 39.5 25.6 34.9
Crime
No 32.7 28.2 39.0
Yes 44.6 26.5 29.0
Animals
No 33.2 28.3 38.5
Yes 39.5 26.1 34.4

 

Figure 2. Unadjusted prevalence of leisure-time aerobic physical activity levels among self-reported cancer survivors by presence of community walking environment features that make it unsafe to walk (barriers) in the local community. Physical activity levels are defined as inactive (0 minutes/week of aerobic activity), insufficiently active (1–149 minutes/week), or sufficiently active (≥150 minutes/week, ie, meeting federal guidelines). “Yes” indicates the presence of the barrier, and “No” indicates the absence of the barrier. Brackets indicate significant differences. Data source: National Health Interview Survey, 2024.

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Unadjusted prevalence of leisure-time aerobic physical activity levels among self-reported cancer survivors by frequency of weather-related barriers to walking. Physical activity levels are defined as inactive (0 minutes/week of aerobic activity), insufficiently active (1–149 minutes/week), or sufficiently active (≥150 minutes/week, ie, meeting federal guidelines). The survey question asked, “How often does the weather make you less likely to walk?” Brackets indicate significant differences. Data source: National Health Interview Survey, 2024.
Response Unadjusted prevalence, %
Inactive Insufficient Sufficient
Almost always 49.5 27.6 23.0
Most of the time 33.0 30.1 36.9
Some of the time 24.1 30.9 45.0
Never 42.9 21.0 36.1

 

Figure 3. Unadjusted prevalence of leisure-time aerobic physical activity levels among self-reported cancer survivors by frequency of weather-related barriers to walking. Physical activity levels are defined as inactive (0 minutes/week of aerobic activity), insufficiently active (1–149 minutes/week), or sufficiently active (≥150 minutes/week, ie, meeting federal guidelines). The survey question asked, “How often does the weather make you less likely to walk?” Brackets indicate significant differences. Data source: National Health Interview Survey, 2024.

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