A new study reveals that moderate to vigorous physical activity during leisure time can significantly lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of physical activity at work. However, combining sedentary leisure-time activities with physically demanding jobs may actually increase the risk of the disease. These findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, emphasize the importance of recreational exercise in reducing the global burden of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes rates have more than doubled globally in the last decade, becoming a major public health challenge. The study suggests that simple lifestyle changes, such as engaging in recreational physical activity, could play a key role in diabetes prevention.
The research, led by Anna Stage, MSc, from the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention at Frederiksberg and Bispebjerg Hospital in Denmark, challenges the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on physical activity. While the WHO recommends physical activity for preventing and managing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, it does not specify whether exercise should occur during work or leisure time. Stage’s study found that leisure-time physical activity, regardless of work-related physical activity, was linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, no similar benefits were seen from physical activity at work, which could point to what is called the “Physical Activity Health Paradox.” This paradox suggests that leisure-time exercise has a protective effect on health, while occupational activity may not provide the same benefits.
The study used data from 5,866 working adults in Denmark, aged 30 to 60, who were part of the Inter99 cohort. Information on type 2 diabetes diagnoses was collected from the Danish Diabetes Register, covering cases from January 1, 1996, to June 30, 2020. Participants also provided details on their occupational and leisure-time physical activity levels. Data analysis in 2024 highlighted the following key findings:
- While strenuous work-related physical activity was linked to type 2 diabetes, this association was not statistically significant.
- Engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity during leisure time was significantly linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Sedentary activities, like watching TV or reading, during leisure time, combined with a physically active job, were associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Combining moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity with any level of work-related physical activity provided protection against type 2 diabetes.
These findings suggest that for preventing type 2 diabetes, it is crucial to prioritize recreational physical activity, even if one’s job involves physical labor.
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