Research presented at the American Heart Association's EPI|Lifestyle 2026 scientific sessions in Boston found that adolescents who replace just 30 daily minutes of sedentary time with sleep or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can reduce their insulin resistance, a key factor in preventing type 2 diabetes.
According to the authors, that 30-minute daily swap cut an estimate of insulin resistance by nearly 15%. The analysis was based on data from Project Viva, a long-term health study of women and children in eastern Massachusetts.
The researchers note that these results, still preliminary and pending peer review in a scientific publication, support public health initiatives that promote replacing sitting time with sleep or physical activity to protect adolescents' cardiometabolic health.