Fitness more important in fight against disease

Abu Dhabi: Despite the established connection between obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, being physically fit is more important than weight loss to decrease the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, a leading researcher told health care professionals in the capital yesterday.
A good level of fitness is effective protection against cardiovascular disease for everyone, including patients afflicted with Type 2 diabetes, Dr Silvano Zanuso, leading researcher from the University of Padua in Italy, said.
"We know that the complications arising from diabetes, not diabetes itself, cause death for diabetics. Ensuring proper fitness however reduces the mortality risk for these patients," Dr Zanuso told Gulf News on the sidelines of the MEED Arabian Public Health Forum 2010.
With 20 per cent of the UAE population being diabetic and another 20 per cent pre-diabetic, professionals at the forum discussed the benefits of exercise to reduce the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the country.
Dr Zanuso said that a structured exercise programme combining aerobics and resistance training, along with regular physical activity and a proper nutritional plan, was the most effective way to reduce the mortality risk for both diabetics and pre-diabetic individuals.
Structured exercises
Structured aerobic exercises include activities like bicycling, swimming, running and skiing, whereas structured resistance training incorporates strength training and weight lifting.
Dr Zanuso said that while a workout type involving either only aerobic or only resistance exercises is effective, a programme that combines both produces the best results.

"To prevent the onset of diabetes more effectively, structured exercise should be undertaken weekly for a minimum of half an hour upto three hours, depending on intensity of the workout. In addition, about 2 hours of physical activity like taking the stairs should also be included," Dr Zanuso said.