PREVENTING DIABETES
Lifestyle intervention programs are best!
To find a Center of Disease Control sponsored lifestyle intervention program near you, click the button on the left.
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Body mass index
Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to classified people into weight categories. BMI is a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by their height in meters (m) squared. BMI can be used to screen for health problems that may be due to their weight category, but does not address the body fatness or health of an individual. Being in the obese category is highly correlated with also having diabetes. The figure to the right shows all the different weight categories based on the BMI ranges.
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Physical activity prevention
Physical activity has already proven to improve one's health and reduce their risk for chronic illnesses. The CDC recommends being physically active between 120 to 150 minutes each week of moderate-vigorous intensity. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans suggest 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week with muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups. The best way to achieve the minimum 150 minutes is to break up the exercise into 10 minute bouts 3 times a day and do that 5 times a week. For more information about the guidelines and other risk you may be at click on the button below.