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These findings come from an analysis of fitness data on 3,942 overweight and obese adults with Type 2 diabetes who completed 4 years of follow up in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial.
John M. Jakicic, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reported that a multivariate analysis of the data revealed that fitness improved more in overweight individuals than in those with class I, II, and III obesity (P <.0001); those without a baseline history of cardiovascular disease (P =.0059); and in younger participants (P <.0001).
The researchers randomly assigned the 3,942 adults to a control group or to the intensive lifestyle intervention group, which included prescribed restricted energy intake, 175 minutes weekly of physical activity, and 3 sessions each year with counselors through the entire 4-year period.
The control group received standard care plus general information 3 times per year related to diet, physical activity, and social support.
Dr. Jakicic and his colleagues used the results from the study participants’ submaximal graded treadmill exercise test to evaluate fitness. They assessed physical activity through a questionnaire completed by a subset of 1,780 individuals.
Unadjusted fitness at year 4 changed +3.8% in the intervention group versus -0.9% in the control group (P <.0001). This difference remained significant after the researchers adjusted for baseline fitness, change in weight, or both baseline fitness and change in weight (P <.0001).
At 4 years, the participants’ physical activity increased by 348 +- 1,562 kcal/wk in the intervention group versus 105 +- 1,309 kcal/wk in the control group (P <.01).
Changes in fitness and physical activity correlated with magnitude of weight loss (r = 0.29 and 0.18) and reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r = 0.14 and 0.11), respectively (P <.0001).
Presented at Obesity 2010: 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society. [Presentation title: 4-Year Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention on Change in Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Results From the Look AHEAD Trial. Abstract 70-OR] |