University of Pittsburgh carries out clinical trial on weight loss and diabetes

The University of Pittsburgh has carried out a clinical trial on the impact that weight loss has on the risk of cardiovascular disease among Type 2 diabetes patients.

As part of its 'Look AHEAD' study, it investigated the effects of an intensive lifestyle intervention programme, which has been designed to achieve and maintain weight loss in overweight or obese people with the condition.

After starting in 2001, the trial enrolled over 5,000 people in 16 clinical centres throughout the US, making it the longest intervention study of its type to be ever undertaken for patients with diabetes.

One of the main findings of the study was that weight loss and a program of weight management and increased physical activity led to no difference in heart attacks and strokes, in comparison to the Diabetes Support and Education Group, which only received general health information and social support.

However, those taking part in the intervention group lost 8.7 per cent of their initial body weight after one year of the study when compared with the control group’s members, who only achieved 0.7 per cent.

Furthermore, the intervention group maintained greater weight loss, losing six per cent of their initial weight in comparison to the 3.5 per cent recorded by the control group.

John Jakicic, chair and professor in the Department of Health and Physical Activity in Pitt's School of Education, was principal investigator for the university’s study.

“While the findings from the Look AHEAD study did not support that engagement in a weight-loss intervention was effective for reducing the onset of cardiovascular disease incidence or mortality, this does not mean that overweight adults with diabetes should not lose weight and become more physically active.

“Rather, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence from this study to date that has shown that weight loss and physical activity were associated with numerous other health benefits,” Mr Jakicic explained.