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Women who reduce sedentary behaviors can significantly reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a recent study. Women who avoid habits such as watching television for more than ten hours a week and who incorporate a thirty-minute walk in their day can reduce the risk of onset of type 2 diabetes by 43 percent and obesity by 30 percent compared to women with sedentary lifestyles.
“The message is simple, when you cut back on sedentary behavior, you cut back on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity which lead to serious health risks,” says Frank Hu, lead study author and associate professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
“Excessive time in front of the TV has been shown to contribute toward bad eating habits, such as eating foods high in saturated fats and increased caloric consumption. Incorporating more physical activity shows the greatest protection against obesity and diabetes. Brisk walking, even doing chores around the yard and house can help.”
Reviewing data from the Nurses' Health Study, the researchers assessed the physical activity and sedentary behaviors of more than 68,000 women over a span of six years and the relationship of sedentary habits to onset of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
During the six years of follow-up, more than 3,700 women at the start of the study became obese and more than 1,500 new cases of type 2 diabetes were diagnosed.
The researchers found that compared with women who spent less than two hours per week watching TV, those who spent at least three hours per day watching TV had a 40 percent increased risk of obesity and a 30 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Those who spent at least five hours per day watching TV had a two-fold increased risk of obesity and a 70 percent increased risk of diabetes. In contrast, standing or walking around at home two hours per day was associated with a nine percent reduction in risk of obesity and a 12 percent reduction in risk for diabetes.
Each hour per day of brisk walking was associated with a 24 percent reduction in risk for obesity and a 34 percent reduction of risk for diabetes.
In addition to reducing sedentary behaviors, acupuncture has been shown to effectively combat onset of diabetes by increasing insulin production, improving blood circulation, regulating blood sugar, and can help to treat obesity.
Your acupuncture physician can also recommend healthy lifestyle changes, such as diet modification, ways to increase physical activity and natural weight loss methods.
For information about acupuncture for the treatment of diabetes and for weight management call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500..
