Research

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Long-term intensive lifestyle intervention (caloric restriction and increased physical activity) improves mobility function (gait speed and lower extremity performance) in overweight/obese middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes, primarily mediated by achieved weight loss.

For older adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity, a long-term lifestyle program focusing on modest weight loss (around 7%) and regular moderate physical activity (like brisk walking) can significantly improve walking speed and lower body function. This benefit persists for years and is not negated by potential muscle loss, as strength levels remain comparable to those who do not undergo such intensive lifestyle changes.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
An intensive lifestyle intervention has long-term benefits for mobility function in overweight and obese middle-aged and older individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Denise K. Houston et al. · Obesity · 2014

Why this rating

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a large sample size (n=964) and long follow-up (8-9 years), though it is an ancillary study of a larger trial.

Source

A long‐term intensive lifestyle intervention and physical function: The look <scp>AHEAD</scp> Movement and Memory Study

Denise K. Houston et al. · Obesity · 2014

DOI 10.1002/oby.20944

rct · n=964Cited 48×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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