By Colin Kenny, GP, Dromore
Within the Why WAIT (Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment) programme, researchers recruited 129 primary care patients with BMIs between 30 and 45 kg/m2 and with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. They had a 12-week clinical model of intensive lifestyle intervention. After 1 year, the participants were divided into a group who maintained <7% weight loss (47.3%) and a group who maintained ≥7% weight loss (52.7%), and were then followed up for a total of 5 years.
It was found that weight reduction in people with diabetes could be maintained for 5 years and was predicted by individuals’ ability to maintain ≥7% weight loss at 1 year. HbA1c and triglycerides deteriorated with weight regain, while other lipid improvements were maintained. Sustained weight loss was associated with significantly lower HbA1c for 5 years and lower blood pressure for 18 months.
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