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.
- Received November 30, 2011.
- Accepted April 1, 2012.
- © 2012 by the American Diabetes Association.
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