Supervised exercise and diet support improved quality of life for men on androgen deprivation

Design

Multicentre, randomised trial, unblinded

Population

700 men on androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, England, median age 72

Primary outcome

FACT-P quality of life and FACIT-F fatigue at 12 months

Effect

FACT-P +4.5 (97.2% CI 1.7–7.2); FACIT-F +1.9 (0.4–3.4)

STAMINA randomised 700 men on androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer at 15 NHS trusts in England. The intervention was 12 months of supervised aerobic and resistance exercise, dietary advice, behavioural support and free gym membership. The comparison was optimised usual care: clinician training, education materials and prompts to exercise. Median age was 72. It was published in September 2026.

At 12 months, prostate cancer-specific quality of life (FACT-P) was 4.5 points better and fatigue (FACIT-F) 1.9 points better with the intervention. Three serious adverse events were linked to the programme, and all resolved.

Guidelines have long recommended exercise during ADT, but it is rarely built into care. This trial shows a structured programme can be delivered through routine services and improves how men feel, even against an active comparator. In India, supervised programmes are uncommon, but a physiotherapy referral and a written plan are achievable in most centres.

• Refer men starting or on ADT to a supervised exercise programme
• Combine aerobic and resistance training with dietary advice
• Use physiotherapy or community programmes where dedicated services do not exist
• Reassess fatigue and quality of life at follow-up
• Check fitness to exercise before starting

Why it matters

Exercise during ADT moves from a guideline aspiration to a deliverable, tested part of cancer care.

Don't overread it

The outcomes were self-reported in an unblinded trial, and 97% of participants were White.

The statistics, in plain English

A FACT-P difference of 4.5 points (97.2% CI 1.7–7.2) is around the lower end of what is usually considered clinically meaningful; the fatigue difference of 1.9 points is modest. The comparison group received active encouragement to exercise, so the true benefit over typical care is probably larger. Patients knew their allocation, which can inflate self-reported outcomes.

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