Mixed
Accumulating energy expenditure through moderate-intensity walking reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in women to a magnitude comparable to vigorous physical activity, provided the total energy expenditure is equivalent.
You do not need to run or lift heavy weights to prevent type 2 diabetes. Simply walking briskly (faster than 4.8 km/h) for sufficient duration to burn energy is just as effective as vigorous exercise. Focus on accumulating these minutes weekly rather than intensity. If you cannot do vigorous activity, walking is a highly recommended, safe, and effective alternative.
Equivalent energy expenditures from walking and vigorous activity resulted in comparable magnitudes of risk reduction.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (N=70,102), long follow-up (8 years), rigorous adjustment for confounders, but observational design limits causal certainty compared to RCTs.
Source
Walking Compared With Vigorous Physical Activity and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women
Frank B. Hu et al. · JAMA · 1999
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