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

Abstract

OBJECTIVE - To examine the association of objectively measured participation in low levels of physical activity with incident type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND 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. © 2012 by the American Diabetes Association.