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Lifestyle-based weight loss interventions (diet and physical activity) for adults with type 2 diabetes achieve modest but statistically significant reductions in body weight and HbA1c compared to usual care.

Engage in structured lifestyle interventions focusing on diet and physical activity. While the average weight loss is modest (around 3-5 kg), it is statistically significant and improves health markers like HbA1c. Consistency is key, as maintenance of these effects is difficult and requires ongoing effort.

GoodSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Compared with usual care/brief diabetes education (n = 5795), lifestyle intervention showed a statistically significantly greater reduction in weight, with a pooled effect of −3.33 kg [95% confidence interval (CI) −5.06, −1.60 kg]... lifestyle intervention showed a non-significant pooled trend toward a reduction in HbA1c level of −0.29% (95% CI −0.61, 0.03%)
Caroline O. Terranova et al. · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2014

Why this rating

Meta-analysis of 10 RCTs, though heterogeneity was high and results influenced by specific trials.

Source

Effectiveness of lifestyle‐based weight loss interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Caroline O. Terranova et al. · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2014

DOI 10.1111/dom.12430

Meta-analysis · 10 studiesCited 94×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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