Weight loss reduces diabetes risk

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Weight loss reduces diabetes risk

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http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25611.html (*this

news item will not be available after 08/06/2005)

United Press International

Thursday, July 7, 2005

NEWCASTLE, England, Jul 06, 2005 (United Press International via

COMTEX) -- Older adults who lose weight reduce their chances of

developing type II diabetes, British researchers at the University

of Newcastle say.

The study published in Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews

based its conclusions on the Newcastle (England) Thousand Families

cohort, which followed all 1,142 people born in 1947 in the town

until age 15 and re-interviewed 412 of them at age 50.

Researchers found that prenatal and infant factors explained less

than 5 percent of the variation in insulin resistance.

However, adult lifestyle and body fat explained 22 percent of

insulin resistance in men and 34 percent in women, NewScientist

reported.

" People should be living healthy lifestyles from as early in life as

possible. But this study shows that it's never too late, " said lead

author Mark Pearce at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

" If you are overweight at age 50 you can still do something to lower

your risk of developing diabetes, " Pearce said.