Adults with diabetes can significantly reduce the risk of mortality associated with prolonged sitting by adhering to recommended physical activity guidelines, a new study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health reveals. This groundbreaking research is the first to demonstrate that sufficient exercise can counteract the increased mortality risk linked to excessive sedentary behavior, even for those with diabetes. The findings have been published in the journal Diabetes Care.
Dr. Wen Dai, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student in Epidemiology at Columbia, emphasizes the urgency of addressing the heightened mortality risk within this vulnerable population, given the widespread diabetes epidemic and the tendency for adults with diabetes to be more sedentary.
“Managing the elevated mortality risk in this high-risk population is particularly pressing given the widespread diabetes epidemic and the tendency among adults with diabetes to sit more and move less,” said Dr. Dai.
Study Details and Methodology
The researchers utilized data from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), focusing on individuals aged 20 and older who have diabetes as defined by the American Diabetes Association. Participants were monitored through 2019 to ascertain their mortality status. Sitting time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were self-reported, while sociodemographic information, lifestyle factors, and medical conditions were gathered via computer-assisted personal interviews.
Physical activity levels were categorized into three groups: inactive (less than 10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10-149 minutes per week), and active (150 minutes or more per week). The study found that 38% of respondents engaged in less than 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. Half of the participants had been diagnosed with diabetes for five years or less, and 34% had been living with the condition for over a decade. Notably, individuals with diabetes who were inactive or engaged in less than 10 minutes of physical activity per week faced a higher mortality risk from all causes.
Key Findings
Over the course of approximately six years, the study recorded 1,278 deaths from all causes and 354 deaths from heart disease among individuals with an average age of 60. Of these individuals, 48% were female, 61% were non-Hispanic White, about one-quarter had less than a high school education, and approximately 12% lacked health insurance.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Sandra Albrecht, an assistant professor of Epidemiology at Columbia, highlights the importance of promoting and supporting physical activity among patients, especially those whose circumstances necessitate prolonged sitting, such as drivers or office workers.
“Our findings support an emphasis on encouraging and supporting patients in adhering to guideline-recommended physical activity levels, particularly for individuals whose life circumstances necessitate prolonged sitting in particular, such as drivers or office workers,” said Dr. Albrecht.
This study underscores the critical role of physical activity in mitigating health risks associated with sedentary behavior in diabetes patients, offering a practical approach to improving their long-term health outcomes.
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