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Jun 13

Short-Term Intensive Weight Loss Program Works for Four Years; Valid Option Seen to Bariatric Surgery

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Newswise PHILADELPHIA -- June 12, 2012 -- A study by a team of clinicians and researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston has shown for the first time that patients with diabetes who enrolled in a short-term intensive weight management program were able to lose weight and keep it off on their own for four years. The findings suggest an alternative course to bariatric surgery in the fight against type 2 diabetes.

The study, presented as a late-breaking abstract Sunday at the American Diabetes Associations 72nd Scientific Sessions, strongly counters the popular view that people generally cannot maintain long-term the weight loss achieved during lifestyle intervention programs.

The notion that most people in the medical field have is that when you apply intensive lifestyle interventions, the majority of patients gain all or most of the weight back in a year, said Osama Hamdy, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director of the Obesity Clinical Program and Director of Inpatient Diabetes Management at Joslin and lead author of the paper.

People have been pessimistic, he added. They think they may need bariatric surgery. But we are sending an optimistic message. Think again. There is something else that can work effectively in real-world clinical practice and save money too. This is a very important observation.

The study showed that around 50 percent of the 120 patients who enrolled in the Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment (Why WAIT) program for 12 weeks were able to maintain an average of 9.5 percent weight loss at four years, while the total group maintained 6.3 percent at four years.

Why WAIT is a multidisciplinary diabetes weight management program designed for clinical practice. The program included a change in diabetes medications to enhance weight reduction, structured dietary intervention with lower carbohydrates and higher protein and meal replacement, an exercise program, with emphasis on strength training and weekly educational and support sessions.

Although subjects in this study were followed for four years, they were on their own after the initial 12-week program. The study found that about half of the subjects did not regain the weight -- on average 24 pounds -- after four years. This group also maintained a significant improvement in their metabolic control as measured by hemoglobin A1c and the improvement in other vascular risk factors like blood pressure and lipids.

It also found that those who maintained at least seven percent of their weight loss at one year were most likely to continue the weight reduction over the long term.

This is very important information, Dr. Hamdy said. It tells us not everyone gains the weight back. In reality, these are similar numbers to the weight loss gained by some bariatric surgeries at that time frame.

Those who had lost at least seven percent of their body weight after one year lost an average of 29 pounds -- or 11.9 percent of their body weight -- at 12 weeks and maintained an average loss of 31.5 pounds -- or 12.6 percent -- at one year.

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Short-Term Intensive Weight Loss Program Works for Four Years; Valid Option Seen to Bariatric Surgery

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