Healthy Lifestyle Program Increases Activity Levels For Adults At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes
Adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease can greatly increase physical activity capacities through a lifestyle intervention program, according to a new study conducted by University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences researchers.
Previous research has shown that similar initiatives help men and women lose weight and reduce the risk of diabetes. The new program, which is designed for use in community settings like worksites or senior citizen centers, showed a significant increase in physical activity levels.
Analysis during the year-long study also showed that participants attained more physical exercise during the summer months versus the winter.
"This may seem like an obvious finding, but this evidence that season influences the physical activity levels of participants in community-based lifestyle interventions will allow us to adjust these programs accordingly and offer extra encouragement and strategies to continue striving to meet physical activity goals during the winter," said Yvonne Eaglehouse, Ph.D., lead author of the study.
Lifestyle balance
Dr. Eaglehouse and her colleagues looked at the positive impact of the Group Lifestyle Balance program. The program consisted of 22 sessions administered over 12 months, and the goal was to implement lifestyle changes that helped lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. 223 prediabetic individuals with an average age of 58-years old participated.
The results showed that Group Lifestyle Balance participants added an average of 45 to 52 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at the conclusion of the 12 months compared to when the study began.
"This is one of the few programs of its kind to report on physical activity-related outcomes in a large group and the only known diabetes prevention healthy lifestyle program to examine the effect of season and weather on changes in physical activity levels," said Andrea Kriska, Ph.D., senior author of the study. "Since increased physical activity is one of the primary targets of these programs, it is critical to know if it is working and what can be done to improve the chances that participants reach their goals."
Source: EurekAlert!
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...