Adherence
During COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates, older adults with type 2 diabetes experienced significant weight loss (average 2.1%) rather than the weight gain often reported in younger populations.
If you are an older adult with type 2 diabetes, do not assume the pandemic shutdown will automatically cause weight gain. This study found that the majority of participants actually lost weight. However, those who did gain weight reported more negative impacts on their health and access to food, so monitoring your weight and mental well-being is still important.
participants lost an average of 2.10 kg (SD= 5.86 Kg) or 2.1% of their weight (SD=6.0%)... 47% lost >2% and only 18% gained >2%, p<.0001.
Why this rating
Large sample size (N=2177) and rigorous prior data, but reliance on self-reported weight during the pandemic introduces recall bias.
Source
Weight changes during the <scp>COVID‐19</scp> shutdown in older individuals with type 2 diabetes: the Look <scp>AHEAD</scp> Study
Rena R. Wing et al. · Obesity · 2022
DOI 10.1002/oby.23674
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →