The role of diet and exercise in fat distribution and type 2 diabetes prevention

Abstract

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is the most common form of metabolic disease, accounting for more than 90% of all diabetes worldwide. The disorder is due to insulin resistance and decreased production of insulin and has a massive impact on health in general because of its increasing prevalence, complications, and mortality. Factors that predispose an individual to T2DM include non-modifiable factors, including genetics, and modifiable ones such as diet, physical inactivity, and prediabetes. Major contributors to obesity are abdominal fat, which increases inflammation and oxidative stress. Dietary habits include high-calorie diets and unhealthy fats, increasing insulin resistance, whereas Mediterranean and low-calorie diets improve metabolic health. Physical activity, including aerobic and resistance training, reduces the risk of diabetes by enhancing glycemic control and insulin sensitivity. Clinical trials of lifestyle interventions were confirmed to provide efficacy, making diet, exercise, and caloric restriction interventions important in the prevention and management of T2DM. Emerging evidence in the literature suggests long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial, and diets rather than nutrients are effective against diabetes. An important approach to limit the global rise in diabetes incidence is through education and promotion of healthier lifestyles, primarily in high-risk populations.