Combining diet and physical activity programs can decrease diabetes incidence. Not only that, the more intense the program, the better, according to a meta-analysis of trials that evaluated 66 programs.

Of the studies analyzed, 30 evaluated diet and physical activity programs vs usual care; 12 looked at more intensive vs less intensive programs, and 13 looked at single diet or exercise programs alone.

Investigators discovered that vs usual care, combined programs:

• reduced type 2 diabetes incidence (risk ratio 0.59) in 16 studies;

• decreased body weight (net change 2.2%) in 24 studies;

• lowered fasting blood glucose level (0.12 mmol/L) in 17 studies; and

• improved other cardiometabolic risks.

In 12 studies that compared programs, those who participated in ones with more sessions, individual sessions, and more personnel lost more weight were less likely to develop diabetes.

Citation: Balk EM, Earley A, Avendano EA, et al. Combined Diet and Physical Activity Promotion Programs to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Among Persons at Increased Risk: A Systematic Review for the Community Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2015; Jul 14,2015. doi: 10.7326/M15-0452.