The research team from Harvard University studied 99,316 mid-aged women, who did not have diabetes at the beginning of the study, for eight years to find out if regular workout can help stave off diabetes.

Muscle-strengthening activities such as lifting weights, aerobics and yoga had real effects on preventing diabetes.

“Our study suggests that engagement in muscle strengthening and conditioning activities (resistance exercise, yoga, stretching, toning) is associated with a lower risk of Type 2 Diabetes,” the research team said, advising adults to do muscle-strengthening exercises at least twice a week.

The study was published in the U.S. medical journal “PLoS Medicine.”

By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)