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Speedy eaters at risk for type 2 diabetes

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Patients that ate meals faster were two-and-a-half times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who take their time eating, according to data presented at the Joint 15th International Congress of Endocrinology and 14th European Congress of Endocrinology Meeting.

Lina Radzeviciene, MD, and Rytas Ostrauskas, MD, from Lithuanian University of Health Sciences developed a case-control study including 234 patients with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and 468 control patients without the disease. Both groups were matched by gender and age (±5 years).

The patients completed a questionnaire which rated their eating speed compared with others, and recorded their height, weight, waist and hip circumference and risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Those who already had type 2 diabetes displayed a higher BMI and significantly lower education level, compared with the control group, researchers said.

After adjustments were made for variables like family history of diabetes, education, morning exercise, BMI, waist circumference, smoking and plasma triglycerides level, data demonstrated an increased risk for type 2 diabetes in patients who ate faster (OR=2.52; 95% CI, 1.56-4.06), compared with patients who ate at a slower pace.

“The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing globally and becoming a world pandemic. It appears to involve interaction between susceptible genetic backgrounds and environmental factors. It’s important to identify modifiable risk factors that may help people reduce their chances of developing the disease,” Radzeviciene said.

Researchers said they hope to perform a larger study to examine how particular types of food, calorie intake, physical exercise, and psychological and emotional well-being affect risk for diabetes.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.