Private MD News

Aerobic exercise is best for reducing diabetes risk

Category: Diabetes

For those who have received HbA1c test results indicating they may have type 2 diabetes, one of the most important things they can do is work to reduce their abdominal fat. Excess fat in this area is known to contribute to chronic diseases, and eliminating it can lead to major improvements in metabolic health.

A team of researchers from Duke University recently showed that aerobic exercise is the most effective way to reduce visceral fat, particularly when compared to resistance training.

The findings are important because evidence has begun to circulate, suggesting that adding lean muscle may be an effective way to reduce type 2 diabetes risk and resistance training is among the best ways to do this. While adding muscle may help, eliminating abdominal fat is the most important thing. Therefore, the findings suggest that individuals should spend more time on aerobic exercise.

"When it comes to increased health risks, where fat is deposited in the body is more important than how much fat you have," said Cris Slentz, who led the investigation. "What really counts is how much exercise you do, how many miles you walk and how many calories you burn."