Physical activity, inclusive of either aerobic activity or muscle strengthening exercise, has been linked to decreased risks of various cancers and improved physical and emotional functioning among cancer survivors, whereas sedentary behavior—sitting or lying down (while awake)—has been associated with increased risk and poorer prognosis for various cancers. Sedentary behavior has increasingly been recognized as an independent risk factor and is distinguishable from lack of physical activity in terms of conceptualization, measurement, and intervention approach.
To better understand and improve/reduce physical activity/sedentary behavior in the U.S. population, the Health Behaviors Research Branch focuses on research related to:
- physical activity interventions and programs
- behavioral assessment of physical activity and/or sedentary activity
- physiological assessment of physical activity (e.g., physiological fitness)
- mechanisms of physical activity/sedentary behavior change
- multiple health behaviors associated with exercise, use of technology (e.g., cell phones and other mobile devices) to intervene on physical activity/sedentary behaviors
- environmental aspects of physical activity
- genetic aspects of physical activity and physical fitness
- addressing the interplay between physical fitness, obesity, and cancer outcomes
- addressing mechanisms of physical activity behavior change and innovative use of theory and state of the art methodology
- novel approaches for sedentary behavior intervention, mechanisms of sedentary behavior change, and innovative use and development of behavioral theory and methodology
Funding Opportunities
| Title | Announcement # | Expiration Date | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Developing and Testing Multi-level Physical Activity Interventions to Improve Health and Well-Being | NOT-OD-24-058 | November 14, 2027 |
Frank Perna
Heather Bowles
|
| Time-Sensitive Evaluation of Policies Affecting Health Behaviors and Chronic Disease Risk | PAR-25-312 (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | January 12, 2028 | ncidccpsbrpadvances@mail.nih.gov |
Data and Tools
National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) Measures Registry Resource Suite
Assess diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these behaviors occur through this searchable database of diet and physical activity measures. Also find User Guides and Learning Modules for assistance with your research or evaluation projects.
National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) Catalogue of Surveillance Systems
Access over 100 publicly available datasets relevant to childhood obesity research.
ACT24 Physical Activity Recall Tool
Estimate previous-day summary values for physical activity and sedentary behavior with this free, web-based recall instrument that complements the ASA24 Dietary Assessment Tool.
Learn MoreAccumulating Data to Optimally Predict Obesity Treatment (ADOPT) Core Measures Project
This project identified a standard set of 50 core measures, or factors, that can be analyzed across studies to better understand the variation in response to obesity treatments.
ADOPT Core Measures: Environmental Domain. Access data layers and/or detailed methods for the environmental variables recommended by the ADOPT environmental working group.
Learn MoreClassification of Laws Associated with School Students (CLASS)
Use data from this website to compare state laws on nutrition and physical education between states and law changes over time.
Learn more about CLASSFamily Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study
Understand the lifestyle behaviors that relate to cancer risk with this collection of psychosocial, generational, and environmental survey data.
Learn More About FLASHEHealth Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)
Study various aspects of health communication in the U.S. with these publicly available data about the public’s use of cancer-related information.
Obtain HINTS DataThe Interactive Diet and Activity Tracking in AARP (IDATA) Study Data
Access these data for studies of physical activity and nutrition.
Learn MoreNational Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) Youth Compendium of Physical Activities
View a list of 196 common activities in which youth participate and the estimated energy cost associated with each activity.
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Cancer Control Supplement (CCS)
NHIS and the CCS are widely used to track self-reported health behaviors and health status for diverse public health and research goals including evaluation of Healthy People objectives.
Learn More About The SurveyNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
NHANES is a key component of the Federal Health Surveillance system, notable for its inclusion of behavioral, biological and health status questions. A unique feature is that NHANES is the only nationally representative health survey to include device-based measurement of activity with accelerometers and objective measurements of strength using handgrip dynamometry.
Learn MoreUpdated Compendium of Physical Activities
View the estimated energy expenditure values for adults for a wide variety of activities. Energy expenditure values are important for connecting physical activity behavior and health.
Youth Compendium of Physical Activities 
: Access a list of 196 common activities in which youth participate and the estimated energy cost associated with each activity.
Evidence-Based Cancer Control Programs
This searchable database of evidence-based cancer control programs provides program planners and public health practitioners easy and immediate access to programs tested in a research study, publication(s) of the study findings, and program materials used with a particular study population in a specific setting.
Learn More
Contacts
