Women who spent the most time sitting had higher insulin levels as well as higher levels of C-reactive protein and the chemicals released by abdominal fat tissue, leptin and interleukin 6.

Women who sit for long periods of time are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but a similar link does not exist in men, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Leicester's Department of Cardiovascular and Health Sciences found that women who spent most of their day sitting were more likely to have early-stage metabolic defects that are a marker for type 2 diabetes than those who tended to sit less.

The results showed that women who spent the most time sitting had higher insulin levels as well as higher levels of C-reactive protein and the chemicals released by abdominal fat tissue, leptin and interleukin 6. These could be signs of inflammation.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, also found that the link between prolonged sitting and diabetes risk was much greater in women than in men, but could not pinpoint why there was such a gender difference, although the paper suggests it may be because women snack more than men while sitting, or because men tend to engage in more vigorous exercise.

"This study provides important evidence that longer sitting time has a detrimental effect on insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation in women but not men. This effect occurs regardless of the amount of exercise," said lead author Dr Thomas Yates. "Therefore, the study confirms that getting women to sit less could be an important factor in preventing chronic diseases./.

According to VNA