Type 2 diabetes mellitus promotes increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. These diseases have the same genetic components and environmental antecedents and insulin resistance is considered one of the main possible antecedents. The metabolic syndrome is a complex disorder represented by a set of cardiovascular risk factors that are commonly associated with central adiposity and insulin resistance. Changing inadequate feeding habits, losing weight and exercising regularly are considered first-choice therapies in treating the metabolic syndrome since they reduce waist circumference, visceral fat and plasma concentrations of glucose and triglycerides; they improve insulin sensitivity and increase HDL cholesterol; consequently, they reduce the risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the objective of this article was to describe and analyze some of the main studies published in the last decades which showed that adopting a healthy lifestyle promotes the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. An educational intervention that focuses on proper nutrition and exercise and, therefore, reduces the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases, can help change inadequate lifestyles.
body composition; diabetes mellitus; type 2; life style; intervention studies; metabolic syndrome
