Physical Activity May Facilitate Diabetes Prevention in Adolescents

  1. Amy S. Thomas, MPH1,
  2. Lori F. Greene, MS1,
  3. Jamy D. Ard, MD1,
  4. Robert A. Oster, PHD2,
  5. Betty E. Darnell, MS3 and
  6. Barbara A. Gower, PHD1
  1. 1Department of Nutrition Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
  2. 2Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
  3. 3General Clinical Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
  1. Corresponding author: Amy S. Thomas, amysusan{at}uab.edu

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to examine the association of physical activity with glucose tolerance and resting energy expenditure (REE) among adolescents.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Subjects were 32 male and female adolescents aged 12–18 years. Intravenous glucose tolerance (Kg) and REE were assessed under inpatient conditions after an overnight fast. Kg was determined as the inverse slope of time versus (ln) glucose over minutes 8–19 of an intravenous glucose tolerance test. Physical activity was assessed over 8 days using accelerometry (counts per minute).

RESULTS—In multiple linear regression analysis, Kg was positively associated with total physical activity (TPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), and 5-min bouts of MPA. Similarly, REE was positively associated with TPA, MPA, and 5-min bouts of MPA.

CONCLUSIONS—In this population, physical activity was positively related to both glucose tolerance and REE. These results suggest that moderate activity may be beneficial in the prevention of diabetes in adolescent populations both through promoting efficient glucose disposal and through increasing energy expenditure.

Footnotes

  • Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 7 October 2008.

    Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ for details.

    The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

    • Accepted September 25, 2008.
    • Received April 25, 2008.
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  1. Published online before print October 7, 2008, doi: 10.2337/dc08-0780 Diabetes Care January 2009 vol. 32 no. 1 9-13
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