African-American women make up a significant percentage of Type 2 diabetes population in US. A recent reseach from Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center found that increasing time spent walking briskly or engaged in physical activity may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in African-American women. Although many previous studied support the role for physical activity in preventing type 2 diabetes, there has been little attention focused on the impact of this factor in the high-risk population of African-American women.
Data collected by the Black Women’s Health Study found that physical activity was inversely associated with a reduced risk of diabetes. Brisk walking (for five plus hours/week) was also associated with a reduced risk of diabetes. This finding is important because many women don’t have the time to engage in physical activity, but most women can find time to walk. The researchers also found that the risk of type 2 diabetes was increased among women who spent an appreciable amount of time watching television. This increase was apparent whether or not a woman was physical active.
The results confirm that vigorous activity is protective against type 2 diabetes in African-American women
Note : Type 2 diabetes reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. and affects an estimated 20.6 million people. Most of the Type 2 diabetes cases can be controlled through proper diet and exercise alone.
