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| Vol. 23, No. 13 |
| July 15, 2001 |
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Benefits of Weight Loss for Diabetics By ANISSA ANDERSON ORR Baylor College of Medicine A new long-term study is investigating the effects of weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes. Baylor College of Medicine is one of 16 research institutions in the United States participating in the study. Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, the Look AHEAD, or Action for Health in Diabetes, study is the first and largest study on the effects of weight-loss interventions ever funded by the NIH. "We know that short-term weight loss can benefit overweight people with diabetes," said Dr. Rebecca Reeves, project director and an assistant professor of medicine at Baylor. "But there has never been a long-term study that shows the long- term effects of weight loss. We hope to learn for the first time if people can reduce their risk for developing complications related to diabetes by losing 8 to 10 percent of their body weight and maintaining that loss." The Look AHEAD study will examine the effects of a lifestyle intervention program that promotes weight loss through reduced calorie intake and regular exercise. Look AHEAD will examine how lifestyle interventions affect heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular-related death in people with type 2 diabetes. This program will be compared to a program involving diabetes support and education. An estimated 5,000 people will be enrolled in the study. The American Diabetes Association says the incidence of diabetes among people 40 to 74 years old increased 38 percent between 1976 and 1994. In addition, type 2 diabetes is associated with a two- to four-times increase in risk of coronary artery disease. Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death in people with type 2 diabetes. More than 50 percent of adults in America are considered overweight. The percent of obese Americans has risen from 16 to 22 percent in the past 15 years. Being overweight affects minorities disproportionately. "Incidences of diabetes are increasing in both the Hispanic and African-American populations as obesity becomes more common," Dr. Reeves said. "While some races are more genetically predisposed to developing diabetes, they reduce their chance of developing the disease if they lead a healthy lifestyle." People who are between 45 and 75 years of age, have type 2 diabetes and are classified as overweight or obese are eligible. Participants will be assigned at random to either the study's Lifestyle Program or its Diabetes Support and Education Program. The LifeStyle Program is an intensive diet and exercise program designed to help participants lose 7 to 10 percent of their initial weight in the first year of the study. Participants will adopt a program of regular exercise, primarily walking, with a goal of 25 minutes per day. A comparison group will be enrolled in the Diabetes Support and Education Program. They will attend sessions on nutrition and physical activity and may attend support groups. Individuals will be followed for up to 11.5 years. Researchers will track cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes control and development of complications, general health and quality of life. For more information, call Baylor College of Medicine at (713) 798-5769.
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