By Good News Network -Jun 2023
Dancing or going for brisk walks can slash the risk of diabetes by three quarters, according to a huge new study.
Those who managed more than an hour of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per day were 74 percent less likely to be diagnosed, compared to sedentary peers.
The protection even applied to genetically-predisposed patients when the disease runs in the family. In fact, their susceptibility fell further than individuals at low genetic risk who were inactive.
“People are unable to control their genetic risk and family history,” said the study’s senior author Professor Melody Ding, of Sydney University. “But this finding provides promising and positive news that through an active lifestyle, one can fight off much of the excessive risk for type 2 diabetes.”
The Australian team tracked 59,325 adults from the UK Biobank—a database holding detailed information about the genes and health of around half a million Brits.
Participants wore accelerometers on their wrist at the start and were then followed for up to seven years.
It is the first study to show that genetic risk of type 2 diabetes, linked to unhealthy lifestyles, can be counteracted by exercise.
Moderate-intensity physical activity describes movements that get you sweating and slightly out of breath, such as brisk walking or landscaping. Examples of vigorous-intensity physical activity include running, aerobic dancing or cycling.
Prof. Ding’s father who’s in his sixties was recently diagnosed with diabetes, which has turned into one of the world’s top ten killers due to the obesity crisis.
“So the result of the study is extremely heartening for my family and myself,” she said. “As an already active person, I now have extra motivation to keep this active lifestyle.
The researchers say the study demonstrates higher levels of physical activity should be promoted as a major strategy for prevention.
The study also found that people with a high genetic risk score were 2.4 times more likely to develop it, if they didn’t exercise.
“If you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, or even if you don’t, today is the day to start being physically active,” said Susan Luo, lead author of the paper published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Janets Comments
This is a wonderful discovery. And just to think an Australian Team were involved is good too. One Caution here should accompany this helpful Information. As a Researcher 30+ Yrs, I have been aware some time ago that Exercise that is really strenuous - including some Exercise Training that is given in Gyms - is not beneficial for our Health and is even why a lot of people who go to Gyms for Weightloss can't take off weight because the Stress Hormone Cortisol plays up and works against their Weightloss efforts. It can also cause Fatigue. Whereas Exercise practiced wisely can yield good results and even cause you to feel more energy. I have seen these things come up several times in Research in recent years. Dr Jesse Lynn Hanley addresses this matter in a book called Tired Of Being Tired. She has worked with different Specialists and advises us that Exercise to the point of Exhilaration is OK but Not to the point of Exhaustion.