| Description |
Large lifestyle interventions have been effective in preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D) in high-risk individuals. However, the effects of translational studies at the community level are less consistent. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) to reduce the risk for T2D via improvements in body weight, body composition, glucose management, and quality of life (QOL) in members of the University of Utah community who are at elevated risk for developing T2D. Forty-seven prediabetic University staff and faculty were enrolled in a year-long group-based translation of the NDPP. The intervention employed two goals: achieving > 7% weight loss, and obtaining > 150 minutes/week of moderate intensity physical activity. After the 12-month intervention, improvements were observed in body weight (-4.82%, p < 0.001), BMI (-5.20%, p < 0.001), waist circumference (-4.56%, p < 0.001), hip circumference (-4.50%, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (-5.94%, p < 0.001), 6-minute walk distance (7.15%, p = 0.001), oral glucose tolerance (-8.41%, p < 0.028), and QOL scale (8.3%, p < 0.001). There were no significant effects (p > 0.05) on waist-to-hip ratio, diastolic blood pressure, or fasting blood glucose. A small but significant increase in HbA1c was detected. At study completion, only 28% of participants had achieved the weight loss goal, but 52% of participants had achieved the physical activity goal. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of goals met and improvements in body weight (rS = 0.61, p < 0.001), BMI (rS = 0.56, p < 0.001), waist circumference (rS = 0.39, p = 0.007), and hip circumference (rS = 0.33, p = 0.024), but no association between goals met and change in glucose management variables. Despite limited effect on markers of glucose management, these results confirm the feasibility of the NDPP’s lifestyle intervention to improve risk factors associated with T2D in members of the University of Utah community. |
