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American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 2000 Jan;90(1):134–138. doi: 10.2105/ajph.90.1.134

Physical activity and incident diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women.

A R Folsom 1, L H Kushi 1, C P Hong 1
PMCID: PMC1446129  PMID: 10630154

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study determined whether the incidence of diabetes is reduced among physically active older women. METHODS: We assessed physical activity by mailed questionnaire and 12-year incidence of diabetes (ostensibly type 2 diabetes) in a cohort of 34257 women aged 55 to 69 years. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, education, smoking, alcohol intake, estrogen use, dietary variables, and family history of diabetes, women who reported any physical activity had a relative risk of diabetes of 0.69 (95% confidence interval = 0.63, 0.77) compared with sedentary women. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that physical activity is important for type 2 diabetes prevention among older women.

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Selected References

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