According to a report published in the September issue of Diabetes Care, weight loss is the most important factor for preventing diabetes, coming out ahead of exercise and diet. This news should not be a complete surprise, but instead a reminder for all Americans who are overweight. The latest estimate is that rates of Type 2 diabetes are expected to double by 2050.
Researchers at George Washington University studies participants enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program to determine which factors played the largest role in disease prevention.
Each person enrolled in the study was placed on a low calorie, low fat diet. The primary goal was weight loss. During analysis of the data researchers also took into account factors such as type and intensity of exercise.
They found that individuals who reduced their total body weight by at least seven percent reduced their risk for diabetes by as much as fifty-eight percent. Total fat intake was less than twenty five percent for every participant, but if weight loss goals were not being met (and diabetes risk not being reduced), then participants were instructed to cut calories even further.
In conclusion, the authors state that weight loss is the most important factor when it comes to prevention of adult onset, or Type 2 diabetes. But both diet and exercise play an important role, because weight loss cannot usually be achieved without one or the both of them.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on September 17, 2006 02:53 PM
