Wolfing Down Your Food Doubles Diabetes Risk

FLORENCE, ItalyFollowing moms advice to chew food slowly may just be secret to lowering your risk for type 2 diabetes, according to new research presented at the joint International Congress of Endocrinology and European Congress of Endocrinology. The findings suggest people who wolf their food down are two and a half times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes than those who take their time.

Researchers from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences compared 234 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients to 468 people who were free from the disease. Cases and controls (ratio 1:2) were matched by gender and age (±5 years). The participants filled out an in-depth questionnaire designed to collect information on possible diabetes risk factors in which they rated their eating speed compared to others. Body measurements were also taken according to World Health Organization recommendations.

After adjusting for other risk factors, the researchers found a more than twofold increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes associated with faster eating habits. They also found the cases had a higher body mass index and significantly lower education level compared to the controls.

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. Its important to identify modifiable risk factors that may help people reduce their chances of developing the disease," the researchers said.

The team previously found that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day significantly decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, while smoking and eating more than five eggs a week increased the risk.