Among 2485 advanced prostate cancer patients in the IRONMAN registry, 58-63% met aerobic physical activity guidelines and only 19-23% met resistance training guidelines, with Black participants and those from African geographic regions showing significantly lower odds of meeting both guidelines.
Approximately 58-63% of advanced prostate cancer patients met aerobic physical activity guidelines across timepoints.
Only 19-23% of advanced prostate cancer patients met resistance training guidelines across timepoints.
Resistance training participation was especially low in African geographic regions, with only 0-3% of participants meeting guidelines.
Black participants had significantly lower odds of meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines compared to White participants.
Participants from African geographic regions had significantly lower odds of meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines compared to those from Europe.
Racial disparities in aerobic physical activity persisted independently of geographic region, as shown by sensitivity analyses excluding Black participants from African geographic regions.
This research examined how many men with advanced prostate cancer were getting enough exercise, and whether this differed by race or where they lived in the world. Using data from 2,485 men enrolled in a large international study called the IRONMAN registry, researchers found that while about 6 in 10 men were getting enough aerobic exercise (like walking or cycling), only about 1 in 5 were doing enough strength or resistance training (like weightlifting). Men who identified as Black and those living in Africa were far less likely to meet these exercise targets — for example, men from Africa were about 92% less likely to meet aerobic exercise guidelines compared to men from Europe, and almost no men (0-3%) from Africa were doing enough resistance training. The disparities in aerobic exercise for Black men remained even after accounting for other factors and even when African-region participants were excluded from the analysis, suggesting that race-related barriers to exercise exist beyond just geographic location. In contrast, the resistance training disparities seen by race were more closely tied to geographic region, meaning that where someone lived played a bigger role in resistance training participation than race alone. This research suggests that exercise programs and support for men with advanced prostate cancer need to be better tailored to reach Black men and men in African regions, who are currently much less likely to be meeting recommended exercise levels. This matters because physical activity is known to have potential benefits for cancer patients' quality of life and health outcomes, and these large gaps in participation mean many patients may not be benefiting from exercise as part of their cancer care.
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Upload Your LabsSolberg A, Grydeland M, Nilsen T, Storås A, Davis I, Greaves N, et al.. (2026). Prevalence of meeting aerobic physical activity and resistance training guidelines in advanced prostate cancer: a descriptive study of racial and regional disparities in the IRONMAN registry.. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-11251-3