Cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes are major health issues in the UAE, with diabetes affecting more than 20 per cent of the adult population in the region, as a result of bad eating habits and inactive lifestyles, says a study by Heriot Watt University.

Research has shown that the risk of developing these diseases is substantially reduced through regular physical activity, but many people simply do not have the time or inclination to partake in frequent exercise regimes.

Scientists at Heriot Watt University have found that short, intensive periods of exercise – involving as little as seven minutes per week – can significantly reduce the chances of contracting diabetes.

Professor James Timmons, from Heriot-Watt University who led the study, found that doing a few intense muscle exercises, each lasting only 30 seconds, can dramatically improve an individual’s metabolic rate in just two weeks.

The improvements in metabolism measured within the study are known to be critical for reducing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the future.

'What is often not appreciated, is that cardiovascular disease processes begin early in life, while diabetes is one of the biggest risk factors,' stated professor Timmons.

'What our study shows is that by doing the right type of training, intensive for very short periods, it is plausible for young, and most probably middle aged, adults to reduce their future risk for developing diabetes without spending 5-6 hours each week involved in exercise programs.'

The results of the study, which looked at the metabolism of twenty-five inactive young men over a two-week period, are contained in the latest edition of the journal BMC Endocrine Disorders.

Each participant took part in short bursts of exercise such as cycling, which resulted in their bodies being dramatically better at processing a glucose drink taken after the training session.

The scientists observed that the insulin produced by the participants worked much more efficiently, with the excess glucose being removed from the blood stream much more rapidly. Long-term exposure to excess glucose in the blood stream is a significant contributor to heart disease and stroke.

'The UAE ranks second highest in the world for diabetes prevalence, and the findings of this research could make a real difference in the future,' added Professor Brian Smart, a deputy principal of the University and executive dean and head of the Dubai Campus.-TradeArabia News Service