Physical activity should be encouraged in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), researchers concluded after conducting a study involving >660 individuals. Participants included ALL survivors (n=331) and controls without ALL (n=330). Investigators used reported screen time and activity measured by accelerometer to determine activity time. They looked at the link between sedentary time at baseline and onset of cardiovascular disease risk. Among the results:

• Survivors spent ~two-thirds of their time sedentary, 32% in light activity, and 2% in moderate or vigorous physical activity; control percentages were similar.
• Survivors’ lean body mass decreased by 1% for each 10% increase in sedentary time.
• Survivors who were sedentary ≥60% of the day were >twice as likely to have high cholesterol.