The relationship between the physical activity intensity, and the risk of type 2 diabetes in active and sedentary adults: Zahedan Adult Cohort Study (ZACS), Iran

Background: Given the effect of lifestyle on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), the present study was conducted to determine the association between PA intensity and the risk of T2DM in sedentary and active adults in Zahedan based on a cohort study. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted as a component of the population-based cohort known as prospective epidemiological research studies in Iran. The baseline data from the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study (ZACS) was utilized for this study. A total of 10,004 adults aged between 35 and 70 years were selected as participants from 2015 to 2019. Data on general information, socio-economic status, sleep status, medical history, and PA were collected through self-report questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters were obtained from participants after a 12-hour fasting period. Finally, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, as well as independent-samples t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression tests in SPSS ₂₂ . Results: Out of 10,004 adults studied, 81.2% were sedentary, with worse health indicators such as higher weight, waist size, and poor blood metrics than active participnts. Sedentary lifestyle correlated strongly with higher rates of hypertension, heart diseases, and stroke. Diabetes prevalence was higher in sedentary (77%) compared to active (16%) participants. The findings showed that the chance of developing T2DM in active individuals were less than sedentary individuals (OR=0.62, p<0.001). Moreover, this relationship was significant after adjusting variables demographic factors (OR=0.65, p<0.001), triglyceride and cholesterol (OR=0.68, p=0.001), sleep status (OR=0.72, p=0.001), and family history of diabetes (OR=0.66, p=0.001). Conclusion: The findings showed a clear association between sedentary lifestyles and an increased risk of T2DM. Physical inactivity correlates with adverse health markers and an elevated incidence of T2DM, which is mitigated by an active lifestyle. These results underscore the imperative for public health initiatives to promote PA as a critical strategy for diabetes prevention.