In a nutshell
This study examined whether increased time sitting can lead to the onset of type 2 diabetes in people who are at high risk for the disease.
Some background
Obesity can lead to higher than normal blood glucose (sugar) levels and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Weight loss, changes to diet and around 150 minutes of exercise per week can decrease the risk of T2D by up to 58%. Glucose-lowering medications, such as metformin (Glucophage), can decrease the risk by 31%.
Sedentary activities are those that are less active, such as sitting at work or watching television. It is thought that people have an increased risk of developing diabetes if they spend a lot of time sitting down.
Methods & findings
This study looked at the association between sedentary behavior and the development of T2D.This study included 3,232 overweight participants with higher than normal blood glucose levels who were considered at high risk of developing T2D. Participants were divided into three groups. The lifestyle intervention group did 150 minutes of physical activity each week, changed their diet and lost weight. Another group were treated with metformin. The third group was given a placebo (a substance that has no therapeutic effect). Participants were followed for an average of 3.2 years. A questionnaire was administered once a year to measure the amount of time spent sitting or doing physical activities.
At the start of the study, the amount of time spent watching television was equal in the three groups. After 3 years, the amount of time watching television was reduced the most in the lifestyle change group (decrease of 22 minutes) compared to the placebo group (decrease of 7 minutes) and the metformin group (decrease of 3 minutes). Participants in the lifestyle intervention group also spent less time sitting at work then than the other groups.
The risk of developing T2D increased approximately 3.4% for each hour spent watching TV.
The bottom line
This study concluded that lifestyle changes led to a decrease in sedentary behavior. This study also suggested that reducing time spent watching television and sitting down at work decreased the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
The fine print
The study was self-reported, so the people involved had to remember the amount of time they spent in front of the TV, which can be difficult to do or people may lie.
What’s next?
Discuss with your physican lifestyle changes that could help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Published By :
Diabetologia
Date :
Apr 08, 2015
