Research

Energy balance

Intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) targeting weight loss and increased physical activity significantly improves glycemic control, promotes diabetes remission, and reduces microvascular complications (nephropathy and neuropathy) in adults with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes.

For adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity, committing to a structured lifestyle program that combines moderate calorie restriction (1200-1800 kcal) with regular moderate physical activity (175 mins/week) can significantly improve blood sugar control, reduce the risk of kidney and nerve damage, and even allow some to reverse their diabetes diagnosis, especially if started early in the disease course.

StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
Studies are reviewed that showed positive impact of ILI on diabetes control and complications... ILI led to a significant reduction in the incidence of very-high-risk CKD... ILI continued to have lower MNSI scores [neuropathy]... ILI participants were more likely to experience a partial or complete remission of their diabetes
Rena R. Wing · Obesity · 2021

Why this rating

Based on a large, long-term (median ~10 years), randomized controlled trial (Look AHEAD) with 5,145 participants.

Source

Does Lifestyle Intervention Improve Health of Adults with Overweight/Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes? Findings from the Look AHEAD Randomized Trial

Rena R. Wing · Obesity · 2021

DOI 10.1002/oby.23158

narrative_review · n=5145Cited 78×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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