Sedentary behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults treated for cancer: A scoping review of health outcomes and interventions.

PURPOSE: Although sedentary behavior (SB) is linked to adverse health outcomes in adult cancer populations, its health impact and the effectiveness of SB interventions in younger patients remain underexplored. This scoping review examined (1) associations between SB and health outcomes and (2) intervention studies to reduce SB among childhood and AYA cancer patients and survivors.

METHODS

A search of five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, SportDiscus) was finalized in May 2025. Studies were included if ≥ 50% of participants were ≤ 39 years old and treated for cancer, and SB was measured via device or self-report. Observational studies had to report associations of SB with health outcomes; intervention studies had to report results for SB-related aims. Risk of bias and quality assessments were performed using established tools.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies (16 observational, 8 interventional) met criteria. Observational studies identified associations between SB and adverse cardiometabolic, bone, and patient-reported outcomes; none assessed mortality. All interventions primarily targeted physical activity, not SB reduction; three showed modest, short-term SB decreases.

CONCLUSIONS

Early evidence suggests SB is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in youth treated for cancer, while current interventions without an SB-specific focus have minimal impact. Key research gaps include the absence of longitudinal data, standardized SB measurement, and randomized controlled trials testing SB-focused strategies.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Reducing SB may help mitigate health risks in childhood and AYA cancer survivors. More robust epidemiologic evidence and targeted interventions are needed to address this modifiable behavior.