Feasibility study for efficacy of group weight management programmes achieving therapeutic weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of traditional diabetes and weight management advice to short-term use of a very low calorie diet combined with traditional education in a group setting for people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A 12-week, non-randomised dietary intervention was used including a control and treatment group in a community setting targeting obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Participants attended a pilot programme aiming to lose 5-10% body weight. Main outcome measures included percentage weight loss, change in HbA1c and total cholesterol. Results: At 12 weeks more participants in the treatment group achieved significant weight loss of 5-10%, an average loss of 6.6kg and a significant change in HbA1c (P = 0.017). Overall there was no significant changes in cholesterol for either group (P = 0.9). Conclusions: The study demonstrates the feasibility for short-term use of a very low-calorie diet for medically significant change in weight and HbA1c in obese people with type 2 diabetes and could provide a realistic framework clinical management of weight in a group setting.