Physical activity in early teens ‘can protect against diabetes’

Getting physically active in the early teens can help to protect people against developing diabetes in later life.

This is according to a new study from the University of Exeter, which measured insulin resistance – a condition leading to high blood sugar and a precursor to type 2 diabetes – in the 300 children every year between the ages of nine and 16.

It was shown that the condition was 17 percent less prevalent in more active adolescents at age 13, independent of body fat levels. However, this difference diminished progressively over the next three years and had disappeared completely by age 16.

As such, it was suggested that the most effective exercise interventions for children would target those in their early teens, as this is when insulin resistance has the greatest impact.

Dr Brad Metcalf, a senior lecturer in physical activity and health at the University of Exeter, said: "We are not saying that 16-year-olds don't need to be physically active; there are other health benefits to be gained from being active at all ages."

There are 3.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK, with around 90 percent of these cases being the type 2 variant.