Research
Energy balance
Intensive lifestyle interventions, such as the Look AHEAD program, can produce significant long-term weight loss (6%) in people with type 2 diabetes, and are generally cost-effective compared to population obesity trends.
For individuals with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes, intensive lifestyle interventions like the Look AHEAD program can lead to significant long-term weight loss (6%) and are cost-effective. Consistency and intensity are key.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The intensive Look AHEAD WMP produced mean long-term weight loss of 6% in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (at a median of 9.6 years). ... The microsimulation model found that WMPs were generally cost-effective compared with population obesity trends.
Why this rating
Based on a major RCT (Look AHEAD) and economic modeling.
Source
Bariatric surgery, lifestyle interventions and orlistat for severe obesity: the REBALANCE mixed-methods systematic review and economic evaluation
Alison Avenell et al. · Health Technology Assessment · 2018
DOI 10.3310/hta22680
Meta-analysis · 131 studiesCited 100×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery produces the greatest long-term weight loss and is the most cost-effective intervention for severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) compared to lifestyle interventions or pharmacotherapy.Good
- Adding a Very Low-Calorie Diet (VLCD) to a Weight-Management Programme (WMP) is not cost-effective compared to a WMP alone, despite producing greater short-term weight loss.Good
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
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