Want to Live Longer? Stay Active

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 29 Mar 2005 - 10:00 PST


Two studies in the April issue of Diabetes Care add to a growing body of evidence that keeping physically active is a very important thing a person can do to reduce his or her chances of dying from heart disease -- even if they can't shake problems such as high blood pressure, obesity or high cholesterol.

The first study, by researchers at the National Public Health Institute in Finland, found that people with type 2 diabetes who engaged in moderate or high levels of physical activity were far less likely to die from heart disease than those who engaged in low levels of physical activity. The benefits of physical activity were consistent regardless of body mass index, blood pressure or cholesterol levels or whether or not the person smoked. Benefits were the same in both men and women.

In the study, those who were moderately active reduced their risk of dying from heart disease by 39 percent, while those who were highly active reduced the risk by 48 percent. Moderate physical activities included any one of three types of physical activity: 1) physical activity during the course of the work day such as standing and walking, lifting or other heavy manual labor; 2) physical activity obtained as part of the daily commute such as walking or cycling for 30 or more minutes; 3) physical activity obtained through leisure activity such as walking, cycling or light gardening for more than 4 hours per week, not including time spent commuting to or from work; or engaging in vigorous physical activity such running, jogging, skiing or swimming for more than 3 hours per week during leisure time. High physical activity included two or more of the three types of physical activities during work, commuting, and leisure time.

To reach lead researcher Dr. Gang Hu, or senior author Prof. Jaakko Tuomilehto, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland by email hu.gang@ktl.fi or phone: 358-9-19127366, or 358-9-47448316.

A separate study, analyzing results from the U.S. National Institute of Health's Diabetes Prevention Program, found that intensive lifestyle changes, including moderate levels of physical exercise (150 minutes per week) also lowers cardiovascular disease risk factors more than a diabetes medication.

The study, funded in part by the American Diabetes Association, found that high blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels all decreased significantly more through intensive lifestyle change (including moderate exercise) than through taking the diabetes drug metformin. Subjects in the study, all of whom were at high risk for diabetes (and therefore heart disease) also saw a greater increase in HDL ("good" cholesterol) as a result of increased physical activity.

For more information on the Diabetes Prevention Program, email dppmail@biostat.bsc.gwu.edu or phone 301-881-9260.

A third study in the April issue of Diabetes Care, conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found high concentrations of C-reactive protein, a proposed risk factor for developing heart disease, in a large percentage of adolescents who had been diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome. Those with the metabolic syndrome tend to be physically inactive.

"All of these studies point, once more, to the importance of maintaining a physically active lifestyle and of developing a commitment to physical activity when as young as possible," said Alan Cherrington, PhD, President, American Diabetes Association. "What we have been seeing in recent decades, unfortunately, is a trend in the opposite direction. Children are becoming more sedentary instead of more active. Parents need to make a commitment to lifestyle changes that includes the entire family - or the entire family may suffer."

Diabetes Care, published by the American Diabetes Association, is the leading peer-reviewed journal of clinical research into the nation's fifth leading cause of death by disease. Diabetes also is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke, as well as the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure and non-traumatic amputations. For more information about diabetes, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).

http://www.diabetes.org

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