The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS): Lifestyle intervention and 3-year results on diet and physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the 1) lifestyle intervention used in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, 2) short- and long-term changes in diet and exercise behavior, and 3) effect of the intervention on glucose and lipid metabolism.


METHODS
There were 522 middle-aged, overweight subjects with impaired glucose tolerance who were randomized to either a usual care control group or an intensive lifestyle intervention group. The control group received general dietary and exercise advice at baseline and had an annual physician's examination. The subjects in the intervention group received additional individualized dietary counseling from a nutritionist. They were also offered circuit-type resistance training sessions and advised to increase overall physical activity. The intervention was the most intensive during the first year, followed by a maintenance period. The intervention goals were to reduce body weight, reduce dietary and saturated fat, and increase physical activity and dietary fiber.


RESULTS
The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in each intervention goal. After 1 and 3 years, weight reductions were 4.5 and 3.5 kg in the intervention group and 1.0 and 0.9 kg in the control group, respectively. Measures of glycemia and lipemia improved more in the intervention group.


CONCLUSIONS
The intensive lifestyle intervention produced long-term beneficial changes in diet, physical activity, and clinical and biochemical parameters and reduced diabetes risk. This type of intervention is a feasible option to prevent type 2 diabetes and should be implemented in the primary health care system.
Lindström
Jaana
J
Diabetes and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. jaana.lindstrom@ktl.fi
Louheranta
Anne
A
Mannelin
Marjo
M
Rastas
Merja
M
Salminen
Virpi
V
Eriksson
Johan
J
Uusitupa
Matti
M
Tuomilehto
Jaakko
J
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D015444:Exercise; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010808:Physical Examination; D013997:Time Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats