title: Health behaviours in older cancer survivors in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess health behaviours in cancer survivors in a population-based sample of older adults in the United Kingdom (UK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from wave 1 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity was compared in cancer survivors and those with no cancer diagnosis. Associations between health behaviours and quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms were compared in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 716 (6.2%) cancer survivors in the sample. Cancer survivors were more likely to be former smokers (p<0.001) and less likely to do moderate or vigorous physical activity (p<0.05) than those with no cancer diagnosis. Physical activity was associated with better QoL and lower depressive symptoms, and smoking with poorer QoL and higher depressive symptoms, in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of health behaviours among cancer survivors in the UK are suboptimal. Effective strategies to promote healthy lifestyles are needed in this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimmett
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steptoe