Moderate Level of Aerobic Fitness Reduces Risk of Diabetes

According to a study presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), women who have low cardiorespiratory fitness or a high body mass index (BMI) have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Women who had both conditions were at the highest risk for the disease.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is a measure of how well your heart and lungs supply oxygen to your muscles during exercise. Regular aerobic exercise, like walking, can improve cardiorespiratory fitness.

The study looked at over 6,200 women for 17 years. At follow-up, 143 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified.

Women who were the least fit had three times the risk of diabetes than women who were fit. Women with the highest BMI had six times the diabetes risk than women with the lowest BMI's.

The good news is that the study showed that walking at a vigorous pace for 30 minutes five days a week produced a mild to moderate level of aerobic fitness and was enough to considerably reduce the risk of diabetes.

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