title: Lifestyle interventions in preventing new type 2 diabetes in Asian populations.
abstract: The aim of this study was to review current evidence on interventional studies aimed at the prevention of type 2 diabetes in Asian population with lifestyle interventions. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes sharply increased in most Asian countries during the last decades. This issue has now also relevant implication for Europe where different surveys are also consistently revealing an higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and other and major CVD risk factors among subjects originating from Asian Countries than in the native population. Nutrition and lifestyle transition seem to play a role in disclosing the predisposition for the development of type 2 diabetes and great interest is now shown toward the possibility to intervene with lifestyle intervention on at risk populations. A meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials showed that lifestyle interventions are highly effective also in the Asian population. All studies were, however, conducted with an individual approach based on the identification of high-risk individuals. When ethnic minority groups have to be addressed, an approach directed to the community rather than to the individual might, however, be more effective. This review reinforces the importance for policy-makers to consider the involvement of the whole community of minority immigrant groups with lifestyle intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy. pamodesti@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Pietro Amedeo
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Modesti
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galanti
authors.affiliation: Direzione generale Diritti di cittadinanza e Coesione Sociale, Regione Toscana, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Piergiuseppe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cala'
authors.affiliation: U.O. Diabetologia, ASL 4 Prato, Ospedale Misericordia e Dolce, Prato, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calabrese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Ethnic minority groups; Ethnicity; IDF geographical regions; Meta-analysis; Type 2 diabetes prevention