We investigated how device-measured physical activity (PA) volume (PA energy expenditure [PAEE]) and intensity (fraction of PAEE from moderate-to-vigorous PA [FMVPAEE]) were associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellites (T2DM).
This population-based prospective cohort study included 90,044 participants. The primary exposures were PAEE and FMVPAEE. The secondary exposures were energy expenditure exerted during light, moderate, and vigorous PA and their fraction of PAEE.
Each 1-SD increase in PAEE was associated with a 17% lower risk of T2DM (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78–0.98). Each 1-SD increase in FMVPAEE was associated with a 21% lower incidence of T2DM (HR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.74–0.83). Achieving the same PA volume (KJ/kg/day) through vigorous PA (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.85–0.91) was more effective in preventing T2DM than moderate PA (HR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96–0.98) and light PA (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.00).
A higher PA volume is associated with a lower incidence of T2DM. Achieving the same PA volumes through higher-intensity PA is more effective than low-intensity PA in reducing T2DM incidence.