Conventional Diet, Exercise Yields More Sustained Weight Loss

“Five year results of a very low calorie diet or conventional weight loss program in type 2 diabetes.” A conventional diet and exercise is likely to produce slower but more sustained weight loss than a very-low-calorie diet (VLCD), according to a five year follow-up of two groups of patients with type 2 diabetes who chose one of the two regimens.

Weight loss was slower in the intensive conventional diet group than in the VLCD group, but better maintained at five years. In the intensive conventional diet group, year high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased, and diastolic blood pressure reduced, report researchers at The Diabetes Research Group, Torbay Hospital, Torquay, England.

They also report that outpatient VLCD did prove safe and effective. "Diabetic patients willing to attempt the diet may safely lose sufficient weight to allow major surgery, but weight regain will be inevitable," they say. "Patients willing to undertake a long-term group programme of conventional diet can sustain significant weight loss for years, but still require anti-diabetic medication."

Forty-five patients with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater expressed interest in an intensive weight loss programme. One group of 15 selected a very low calorie diet, while a second group of 15 selected intensive conventional diet and exercise (ICD). Fifteen patients failed to follow either programme.

Group sessions of eight to 15 subjects continued weekly for six months, then monthly for 12 months. Quality of life, BMI, waist/hip ratio, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, serum fructosamine and serum lipids were prospectively recorded at three, six and 12 months, and then annually.
Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics Volume 15 Issue 2 Page 121 – April 2002.