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Surviving childhood cancer will not increase the development of healthy lifestyle habits.

Previous studies suggested that children who have survived cancer are more likely to lead healthier lifestyles compared to those who've never suffered the disease.

Contrary to previous assumptions, childhood cancer survivors are not more likely to adhere to healthier habits like eating more nutritiously or exercising more.

The findings are important because childhood cancer survivors generally face different health-care challenges and die earlier than the general population.

Childhood cancer survivors are also more likely to develop second cancers, heart disease, body weight disorders and psychosocial disorders, according to experts.

The latest study involved interviews from 431 childhood cancer survivors between the ages of 18 and 59 and 361 participants who never had the disease. Researchers noted that all participants were diagnosed before the age of 21.

"There is still much room for improvement in educating and encouraging survivors to follow healthier diets and lifestyles," Chloe Berdan and her team from the University of Illinois said in a news release. "Adopting such behavior during early adulthood may have a lasting impact on their quality of life and overall survival."

The findings are published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.