Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented or delayed in high risk people through physical activity, independent of weight loss, according to new follow-up data from the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study.

The original DPP, published in 2002, found that lifestyle changes, including moderate weight loss and increased physical activity, reduced the chance of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent over three years in overweight people with prediabetes.

The researchers found that in all three treatment groups, diabetes incidence was lower for participants who were more physically active, regardless of changes in weight.

Study participants were randomized to one of three groups: lifestyle intervention, metformin or placebo. Both lifestyle and metformin substantially reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the lifestyle intervention more effective than metformin. Participants in the lifestyle intervention arm of this multi-center study received an intensive behavioral intervention composed of nutrition and physical activity with the two goals of being physically active for a minimum of 150 minutes per week, and achieving a weight loss of 7 percent.

The current study is a 12-year follow-up of the subgroup of 1,793 participants who were part of a DPP ancillary study in which they were asked to wear an activity monitor for one week. The interviewer-administered Modifiable Activity Questionnaire was used to track physical activity (PA) yearly, and diabetes status was determined by annual oral glucose tolerance and semi-annual fasting plasma glucose tests.

The researchers found that in all three treatment groups, diabetes incidence was lower for participants who were more physically active, regardless of changes in weight.

“These current results show that physical activity, over an average of 12 years, decreased the chances of developing diabetes even after considering any changes in weight.  This protective effect was greater in those who were less active at baseline. They also suggest that the lower development of diabetes across the entire study in those that took part in the lifestyle arm of the study may be partially explained by improvement in physical activity levels as well as weight loss,” said one of the lead investigators, Andrea M. Kriska, PhD, MS, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

“Until now, the importance of physical activity in preventing diabetes development in the DPP was thought to be due to its role in achieving weight loss and weight maintenance; however, it was not considered a strong key factor alone,” Kriska continued. “It is important for health care professionals to look beyond their high-risk patients’ weight, and also consider their physical activity levels, when discussing strategies to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.”

(Newswire)