Study suggests increasing physical activity could significantly cut type 2 diabetes risk, especially in younger adults

Research from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes indicates that higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous exercise substantially reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the strongest benefits observed in younger adults, suggesting a need to promote movement across all ages.

Research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Milan suggests that higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are linked with a markedly lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes, with the strongest relative benefit seen in younger adults. The study also found that people who were active later in the day tended to have a lower risk than those whose activity came earlier, although the researchers said that pattern was not strong enough to justify separate timing advice for different age groups.

The analysis drew on data from 87,975 adults in the UK Biobank who had no history of diabetes. Participants wore wrist accelerometers for a week, allowing researchers to measure their usual activity more precisely than through self-report. Over an average follow-up of 7.7 years, 2,140 people developed type 2 diabetes. Those in the lower-activity group, who recorded a median of 121 minutes of weekly moderate-to-vigorous activity, were compared with a higher-activity group with a median of 409 minutes a week. After accounting for factors including smoking, education, deprivation, sleep and family history, the lower-activity group had about twice the relative risk of diabetes.

Age, however, changed the picture. In adults younger than 63, the lower-activity group faced more than double the risk of type 2 diabetes compared with the higher-activity group. Among adults 63 and older, the gap narrowed, with lower activity linked to a 65% higher relative risk. The researchers said the absolute number of cases prevented by greater activity was actually larger in older adults, because their underlying risk was higher even though the relative effect was smaller.

That distinction matters for public health, because broad guidance already recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling or running. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of chronic disease in older adults, while the National Institute on Aging says exercise can also support balance, mobility and mental health. The American Diabetes Association has likewise long advised structured activity, including aerobic and resistance exercise, to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people at higher risk. Researchers behind the new study said the lesson was not that older adults need a different timetable, but that encouraging more movement across adulthood could reduce the overall burden of disease, especially as age-related risk rises.