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Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Study: Lessons Learned

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Diabetes and Exercise

Part of the book series: Contemporary Diabetes ((CDI))

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Abstract

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Study were important, large, randomized trials that evaluated the effects of a lifestyle intervention, including diet and physical activity, in persons at risk for or with type 2 diabetes. The DPP Study found that a lifestyle intervention targeting ≥7% weight loss and ≥150 min/week of physical activity effectively reduced diabetes incidence by 58% over an average of 2.8 years. Though weight loss was a stronger predictor of decreased diabetes incidence in DPP, achieving the targeted 150 min/week of physical activity predicted greater weight loss, was easier for participants to achieve (vs. the weight loss target), and decreased diabetes risk by 44% even when weight loss and dietary fat goals were not achieved. These findings strongly support physical activity for diabetes prevention. The Look AHEAD Study evaluated whether a lifestyle intervention targeting ≥7% weight loss and ≥175 min/week of physical activity could reduce major cardiovascular events in adults with preexisting diabetes. After an average 9.6 years of follow-up, the lifestyle intervention was not effective for reducing cardiovascular events as compared to the control group. Despite the failure to find a benefit on the primary outcome, increases in physical activity and, to a greater extent, cardiorespiratory fitness were independently related to more weight loss, better glycemic control, reduced cardiovascular risk factors, and increased health-related quality of life among Look AHEAD Study participants. Thus, physical activity that increases fitness remains an important part of treatment recommendations for adults with type 2 diabetes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, 32 Oak Hill Court, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Bethany Barone Gibbs PhD & John M. Jakicic PhD

Authors
  1. Bethany Barone Gibbs PhD
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  2. John M. Jakicic PhD
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Correspondence to Bethany Barone Gibbs PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology Metabolism and Diabetes and Center for Women’s Health Research, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Jane E. B. Reusch, MD

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Center for Women’s Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Judith G. Regensteiner, PhD, MA, BA

  3. Clinical and Research Exercise Physiology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Kerry J. Stewart, Ed.D., FAHA, MAACVPR, FACSM

  4. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Aristidis Veves, MD, DSc

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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

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Barone Gibbs, B., Jakicic, J.M. (2018). Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Study: Lessons Learned. In: Reusch, MD, J., Regensteiner, PhD, MA, BA, J., Stewart, Ed.D., FAHA, MAACVPR, FACSM , K., Veves, MD, DSc, A. (eds) Diabetes and Exercise. Contemporary Diabetes. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61013-9_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61013-9_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61011-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61013-9

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