Research

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Intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) focused on weight loss does not significantly reduce all-cause mortality in older adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity compared to diabetes support and education (DSE) over a median of 16.7 years.

For older adults with type 2 diabetes, engaging in intensive lifestyle programs (diet and exercise) is recommended to improve quality of life, fitness, and metabolic health, but should not be undertaken with the expectation that it will significantly extend lifespan compared to standard diabetes education. The intervention is safe and does not increase mortality risk.

StrongRefutesHIGH confidence
ILI focused on weight loss did not significantly affect mortality risk. ... The incidence of all-cause mortality did not differ significantly in ILI and DSE (549 and 589 participants, respectively) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91 [95% CI 0.81, 1.02]; P = 0.11).
Rena R. Wing et al. · Diabetes Care · 2022

Why this rating

Large randomized controlled trial (n=5,145) with long-term follow-up (median 16.7 years) and rigorous intent-to-treat analysis.

Source

Effects of Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Overweight/Obesity: Results From the Look AHEAD Study

Rena R. Wing et al. · Diabetes Care · 2022

DOI 10.2337/dc21-1805

rct · n=5145Cited 56×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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