Low-Calorie Diet, Weight Management Effective in Lowering T2D Risk

A low-calorie diet and weight management programs proved effective in lowering risk of type 2 diabetes in prediabetic individuals, based on a comparison of 2 studies presented at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’S) 79th Scientific Sessions.

Researchers reporting on the international PREVIEW trial noted a cumulative type 2 diabetes incidence over a 3-year period at 4%, significantly lower than what researchers were predicting for both studies. There was no difference in the effectiveness of the 2 programs.

Investigators compared data from 2 separate studies on 2 different interventions that included 2,223 people over a 36-month period. The study was conducted in several European countries. One study looked at the impact of a high protein diet with low glycemic index carbohydrates combined with weight loss while the other study looked at the impact of a moderate protein, moderate GI diet with weight loss. Data were collected using blood and urine samples, diaries, body composition assessments and accelerometers. Instructors also led 17 group visits that encouraged healthy lifestyle changes. Sessions included physical activity and nutrition counseling.

Of the 2,223 originally enrolled, 2,202 successfully lost 8% of weight during the LCD, and in January 2019 when the study ended, and 962 still remained in the study at 36 months.

“These results illustrate that combining an initial low-calorie diet to establish significant weight loss followed by a maintenance diet and physical activity program with evidence-based advice on achieving behavior can achieve longer term maintenance of weight loss and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” one of lead investigator of the Prevention of Diabetes through Lifestyle Intervention and Population Studies Around the World study Ian Macdonald, BSc, PhD, professor of metabolic physiology at the University of Nottingham said in a press release about the study.

More data are needed before weight loss and a low-calorie diet can be declared a main contributor to the findings, according to the study researchers.

Reference

Weight Loss from Low-Calorie Diet, Followed by Different Weight Management Programs, Provide Comparable Delays to Progression of Type 2 Diabetes American Diabetes Association News Room [Press Release] Published June 8, 2019 http://www.diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/2019/weight-loss-from-low-calories.html