e-Bulletin October 2025

Small Changes, Big Impact on Health
Replacing 30 Minutes of Sedentary Time with Light Physical Activity is Associated with a 5% Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study by Professor Youngwon Kim and Dr Qiaoxin Shi from our School has revealed that replacing sedentary time with more active movement is associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk, regardless of genetic background. The study analysed data from over 73,000 individuals and found that even small changes can provide meaningful health benefits. For example, swapping 30 minutes of sedentary time for light or moderate physical exercise can make a difference.

Using smart wearable devices, the study tracked daily activities including sleep, sedentary behaviour, and different types of exercise. The results show that replacing sedentary time with light activities like walking or doing household chores is associated with 5% decrease in diabetes risk. Replacing it with more vigorous activities is linked to a much greater decrease in risk by 18%. The findings were published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. [link to the publication]