Modest levels of physical activity are associated with a lower incidence of diabetes in a population with a high rate of obesity: the strong heart family study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of objectively measured participation in low levels of physical activity with incident type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
The study population included participants free of diabetes and cardiovascular disease at baseline (n = 1,826) who participated in a follow-up examination. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the association of steps per day with incident diabetes.


RESULTS
During 5 years of follow-up, 243 incident cases of diabetes were identified. When compared with participants in the lowest quartile of steps per day (<3,500 steps), participants in the upper three quartiles of steps per day had lower odds for diabetes, consistent with a threshold effect. Contrasting the three upper quartiles with the lowest quartile, the odds ratio of diabetes was 0.71 (95% CI 0.51-0.98).


CONCLUSIONS
Modest levels of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of incident diabetes, compared with lower levels of activity.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. amfretts@u.washington.edu
Amanda M
AM
Fretts
Barbara V
BV
Howard
Barbara
B
McKnight
Glen E
GE
Duncan
Shirley A A
SA
Beresford
Darren
D
Calhoun
Andrea M
AM
Kriska
Kristi L
KL
Storti
David S
DS
Siscovick
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D055815:Young Adult