Gaby
A team of researchers from Peking University (China) and Osaka University (Japan) has made a surprising discovery. It turns out that going to the movies at least once a month may help combat the development of type 2 diabetes.
The researchers already knew that engaging with the arts helps maintain heart health, overcome anxiety and depression, and prevents cognitive decline in older age. Now, they have explored whether visiting cinemas, theaters, museums, and art galleries can contribute to controlling type 2 diabetes.
This new study is the first to tackle the modern epidemic of diabetes in such an unexpected way, as reported by the Daily Mail.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
According to statistics, over 450 million people worldwide suffer from type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90 percent of all diabetes cases.
Type 2 diabetes most commonly develops in adulthood. This condition is largely associated with a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and genetic predisposition. It is a key risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. In many individuals with this form of diabetes, the pancreas continues to produce insulin (unlike those with type 1 diabetes). However, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin for the body to function normally. If left untreated, this condition can become life-threatening.
How the Study Was Conducted
The Chinese-Japanese team analyzed survey data from over 4,000 Britons collected over a 12-year period. Volunteers were asked how often they enjoyed going to the cinema, theater, art galleries, or museums.
The researchers paid particular attention to how many participants developed type 2 diabetes during the survey period. They found that regular trips to the movies at least once a month reduced the likelihood of developing the disease by 35 percent compared to those who rarely or never attended cultural events.
This was true even when the scientists accounted for other factors related to disease development, such as low income and poor education.
However, it remains unclear exactly how visits to films, exhibitions, and performances prevent diabetes. Researchers speculate that these outings may offset some of the damage caused by stress on the body.
According to the charity Diabetes UK, chronic stress can lead to the accumulation of harmful hormones like cortisol. These hormones hinder the proper functioning of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and a further decline in insulin production can lead to type 2 diabetes.
In their report, the team stated that engaging with the arts “provides enjoyment, relaxation, reduces stress, and is socially interactive.”
It is worth noting that in this study, the researchers overlooked the harmful effects of snacking during movie screenings, which can provoke the development of diabetes.
Interestingly, previous studies on this condition have warned that a 225-gram serving of sweet popcorn contains about 1,200 calories. This is nearly half of the daily caloric intake for men (2,500) and more than half of the recommended caloric intake for women (2,000).
