Sedentary Lifestyle Increases Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, According To Study

A sedentary lifestyle might be attractive and enjoyable to many people but it also has a lot of harmful effects on people. According to a new study, sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of the development of type 2 diabetes.

Medical Daily reports that the new extensive study -- which involved over 2,000 participants and published in Diabetologia -- objectively examines the relationship between sedentary lifestyle and type 2 diabetes. The research focuses on the link between the total duration and patterns of sedentary lifestyle as well as the development of type 2 diabetes in the participants.

The participants were first given a standard test to check their glucose levels and diabetes status. Afterwards, the participants wore an activPAL3 accelerometer continuously for eight days to objectively calculate the total amount of sedentary time, total sedentary breaks when the participants were awake, extended sessions of sedentary breaks and the average time period of all the sedentary breaks.

"Participants with type 2 diabetes were more likely to be current smokers, though less likely to consume a lot of alcohol; more mobility limitation; and higher body mass index compared to those with impaired or normal glucose metabolism," the article shared.

The research also finds that the diabetic participants spent an average of 26 more minutes of sedentary behavior compared to the non-diabetic participants. An increase of 22 percent in the risk of type 2 diabetes development was also observed for every hour spent sitting down.

Aside from avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, there are other effective ways to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Maintaining a healthy and ideal body weight, choosing a low-sugar and low-fat diet every day, proper management of stress and anxiety, getting regular physical exercise and adding some spices to meals are some of the most effective ways to prevent type 2 diabetes, according to Best Health Mag.