Effect of physical activity and obesity on type 2 diabetes in a middle-aged population.
BACKGROUND
The physical activity has been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of physical activities such as occupational, household and daily lifestyle activities and obesity on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged population.


METHODS
All people (n = 2053), aged 45-64 years were selected for this study from the large sample of population-based cross-sectional data collected in the 1990-1994 by National Health Survey of Pakistan. The participants completed in-person interviews at baseline; the overall response rate was 92.6%. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk of developing the type 2 diabetes.


RESULTS
Stair climbing was found to be inversely associated with the risk of diabetes and cycling was also associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (RR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-1.00, P = .048). The relationship between physical activity and reduced risk of diabetes adjusted for age and body mass index was statistically significant only in women (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides an incentive that physical activity in leisure-time exercise or daily activity reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in a high-risk population.
Ansari
Rashid M
RM
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia. ansarirm@yahoo.com
D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors