A recent study suggests that engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can be advantageous for those with a genetic inclination towards type 2 diabetes.
The research indicates that individuals who were highly active during the study had a 74% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who were the least active over 6.8 years.
Furthermore, the study found that any level of physical activity can decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes, with higher levels of activity being more beneficial.
It is a well-known fact that engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can have a positive impact on overall health, as demonstrated by previous research.
In addition, studies have indicated that it can be effective in preventing chronic ailments like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
However, a recent study has examined the benefits of physical activity for individuals with a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes and found that it can reduce the risk of developing the condition regardless of genetic factors.
The level of protection is directly proportional to the amount of physical activity, with more activity leading to greater benefits.
Compared to the least active individuals studied, those who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for over an hour daily had a 74% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The research analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which included 59,325 participants aged 40 to 69 years. The baseline data was collected between 2006 and 2010, and a subset of individuals wore wrist accelerometers for seven consecutive days from 2013 to 2015. The participants were monitored for an average of 6.8 years.
The study is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
