Sustained physical activity offers benefits beyond activity volume in chronic disease prevention

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Evidence supports the health benefits of physical activity, but the longitudinal patterns of physical activity associated with long-term health outcomes remain insufficiently understood. In 231,488 health professionals from three US cohorts with repeated physical activity assessments for 32 years, we prospectively examined the associations of long-term physical activity patterns (volume, consistency, and trajectories) with incidence of major chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, major cardiovascular disease, and cancer. We find that maintaining a volume at the recommended level throughout the follow-up is related to a greater risk reduction than engaging in sporadic high-volume activity in some periods mixed with inactivity. The trajectory analysis reveals that being physically active throughout middle adulthood is associated with a 10–28% lower incidence of major chronic diseases after age 60. This work demonstrates that maintaining physical activity over the long term provides added benefits beyond activity volume alone for chronic disease prevention. Long-term patterns of physical activity and the importance of consistent adherence to the recommended level remain poorly understood. Here, the authors show that maintaining physical activity over the long term offers added benefits beyond activity volume alone for chronic disease prevention.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69552-4

Authors: Zhe Fang, Peilu Wang, Bernard A. Rosner, Edward L. Giovannucci, Mingyang Song

Institutions: Harvard University, Fudan University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Physical Activity and Health

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,990

Funders: American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Cancer Institute

OpenAlex ID: W7128818710