Early Life Physical Activity May Reduce the Risk of Developing Type 1 Diabetes: The Longitudinal ABIS Study

The impact of early-life physical activity is significant on long-term health outcomes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between early-life physical activity and later development of type 1 diabetes.

A total of 16,415 children were included in a longitudinal prospective population-based birth cohort, of whom (n = 169) type 1 diabetes cases were identified until 2023 using the Swedish National Diagnosis and Drug Prescription Registers. Cox regression was used for hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval, and adjusted for low maternal education, family type 1 diabetes history, and BMI as confounders.

Results show an inverse association between high physical activity and type 1 diabetes risk from age 3-25 years. Both male/female demonstrated substantial protective effects at age 3 and 5 years but female showed weaker effects at age 8 compared to males. HR for males/females at age 3 was [0.42 (0.30-0.68, p = 0.021); 0.45 (0.32-0.70, p = 0.025)], at age 5 [0.58 (0.37-0.85, p = 0.038); 0.63 (0.40-0.86, p = 0.045)], and at 8 years [0.63 (0.40-0.93, p = 0.046), 0.70 (0.47-1.18, p > 0.05)]. After confounder adjustments, the effects were still significant at age 3 and five in both males/females. aHR in males/females at age 3 was [0.48 (0.34-0.80, p = 0.027); 0.50 (0.32-0.82, p = 0.025)], and at age 5 [0.66 (0.38-0.97, p = 0.048); 0.72 (0.45-0.95, p = 0.048)]. As age increases, the protective effects became weaker (p > 0.05).

Physical activity in early childhood may reduce the risk of developing type 1 diabetes, and should be facilitated and encouraged.