Weight loss reduces diabetes risk

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.