In a study from the University of Bath, scientists found the negative impact long-term inactivity places on the body’s blood sugar and metabolic health.
The unique study involved 20 men lying in bed for two months straight and showed that long-term inactivity strongly increases blood sugar levels even if people reduce their food intake to avoid gaining weight.
The research was part of a European Space Agency (ESA) bed rest study.
For 60 days, 20 young, fit, and healthy male participants stayed in bed with their feet above their heads while international researchers assessed numerous health measures.
The men remained in bed even while they ate, showered, and went to the toilet.
The team focused on participants’ metabolic heath: how well your body controls blood sugar.
Previous work from the same team in 2018 demonstrated that exercise, even in short bursts, has a major impact on blood sugar in the short term.
With this study, they wanted to understand more about what happens when there is no physical activity or movement over weeks and months.
Participants were fed a much-reduced diet to compensate for their much-reduced physical activity and to stop them from gaining weight.
The results show that even when food intake was reduced to match participants’ much lower energy expenditure during bed rest, inactivity negatively and profoundly impacted their blood sugar levels.
As a result of taking part in the bed rest study, average blood sugar levels among participants increased by around 6% in the day, and by 10% at night.
Their ability to dispose of blood sugar—i.e., to take up blood sugar into muscles—also decreased by nearly a quarter (24%).
Participants were struggling to control their blood sugar, which is an important risk factor in developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes.
The team explains that the reduction in calorie intake did prevent participants from experiencing even higher blood sugar levels.
They speculate that had they eaten the same amount as normal, given the reduction in the ability to dispose of sugar, their blood sugar concentrations would have risen even higher during the bed rest.
The bed rest study was conducted by ESA to help understand the health effects of crewed future space missions for astronauts.
However, the researchers say the implications are also relevant for life back here on Earth, where millions of people face periods of long-term inactivity due to poor lifestyles, chronic conditions, ill health, or injury.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that flaxseed oil is more beneficial than fish oil to people with diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that blueberries strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and results showing intermittent fasting could help reverse type 2 diabetes.
The study was conducted by Dylan Thompson et al and published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.
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