Sedentary Work-A Risk Factor for Diabetes with a Positive Family History

Background The phrase sedentary behaviour comes from the Latin word sedere which means to sit. Obesity and sedentary lifestyles are escalating national and global epidemics that warrant increased attention by physicians and other health care professionals. These intricately linked conditions are responsible for an enormous burden of chronic disease, impaired physical function and quality of life. Persons having sedentary work and lifestyle will be prone to type II diabetes. Sedentary work, which accelerates risk of diabetes, is least explored in the Indian population. Aim & objective - To examine the relationship between sedentary job and the risk of obesity and diabetes. Methods- Data of age matched 50 subjects previously undiagnosed with diabetes from two occupational groups the banking sector (Group 1) and computer professionals (Group 2) in Chennai, India were selected. The data for this pilot study were retrieved using a structured questionnaire which calculates the Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS). The important explanatory variables were Body mass index (BMI), Waist circumference (WC), duration of physical activity, positive Family History of Diabetes (FHD), Random Capillary Blood Glucose level (RCBG) and systolic blood pressure (SP) and diastolic blood pressure (DP). Logistic regression analysis was done separately to identify the determents of diabetes in each group. Also a combined logistic regression was done to estimate the risk of diabetes among sedentary subjects with positive FHD. Results Factors associated with elevated RCBG among bank employees were Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS) and Systolic blood pressure, whereas among computer professionals pressure, IDRS was significantly associated with diabetes. Conclusion Healthy diet and active life style reduces the risk of Diabetes, in spite of having a positive FHD. Effective health education programmes promoting healthy diet and regular exercise are needed to reduce the burden of diabetes.