Older folks afraid of developing metabolic syndrome can now resort to exercise and healthy diet to avoid it. The diet should be one that keeps the weight in check. The metabolic syndrome is a collation of metabolic issues that later on result in heart diseases, diabetes type 2, obesity, hypertension and high blood sugar levels.

There was a research conducted the result of which proved the above thesis. Just a plain diet won’t do the trick, however if it is mixed with exercises then the insulin sensitivity increases by another 100%. Insulin sensitivity is defined as the function of the body where it flushes out the glucose from the blood. However in older people this function is inhibited. It is common knowledge that weight loss can counter all the above mentioned diseases.

As per the research team, previously the link between dieting and exercising was missing and people choose to do just one amongst the two. But in this study the researchers studied the effect of exercising and diet separately and then together to come to a conclusion. This clinical study was conducted for over a year and for this they picked more than a 100 obese people falling under the age group of 65 or above. These elderly were then placed into various groups and asked to follow certain habits. The primary goal of the team was to check the insulin sensitivity index. The tests used to analyze were blood test and by-mouth glucose tolerance test.

The findings from the research are as follows. The sensitivity to insulin did not improve for the group that only did exercises. It rose by 40% for those who followed only diet and by 70% in those who followed both. It was concluded that for older people who were overweight a proper diet along with exercises will help raise their insulin sensitivity thereby warding of heart diseases and hypertension.