DM Prevalence _ Relative Risks

Relative Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
in US Men by Physical Activity Level

Quintile 1

Quintile 5

Quintile 2-4

Quintile 5

Physical Activity

Quintile of Western Dietary Pattern Score

Quintile 2-4

Quintile 1

Relative risk for

type 2 diabetes

van Dam RM, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:201-209.


	Relative Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in US Men by Physical Activity Level
	These data are from The Health Professionals Follow-up Study of 51,529 male health professionals. To assess dietary patterns, a 131-item food-frequency questionnaire was administered in 1986, 1990, and 1994. Using factor analysis based on data from these questionnaires, two major dietary patterns, “prudent” and “western”, were validated. A prudent diet was characterized by the consumption of more vegetables, fruit, fish, poultry, and whole grains. A western diet was characterized by a higher consumption of red meat, processed meat, french fries, high-fat dairy products, refined grains, and sweets and desserts.
	The relative risk of type 2 diabetes in the cohort based on quintile of the western dietary pattern score was then determined. The relative risk for type 2 diabetes was lowest in the quintile with the lowest western dietary pattern score and highest in quintile 5 with the highest western dietary pattern score. When segregated by quintile of self-reported physical activity (lowest physical activity is quintile 1), the relative risk of diabetes based on the western dietary pattern score was increased further in those who participated in little or no physical activity. It is also apparent from these data that physical activity alone does not completely offset the increased relative risk of type 2 diabetes associated with eating foods that are high in saturated fats and refined sugars.

	Reference:
	van Dam RM, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Hu FB. Dietary patterns and risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in U.S. men. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136(3):201-209.