A study published on June 22 in JAMA Network Open, led by Dr. Tianyue Zhang of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (China), found that type 2 diabetes risk was lower among middle-aged people who combined regular strength training with recommended levels of aerobic exercise and little time spent on sedentary behaviors, such as watching TV.
According to the authors, one hour or more of strength training a week already meets general public health guidelines, though the results suggest that keeping up the habit consistently over time may matter more than the total amount of exercise done at any one point.
The team recommends explicitly including strength training, not just aerobic exercise, in future type 2 diabetes prevention guidelines, especially in midlife, a key period in the development of insulin resistance.