Looking AHEAD: Putting Lessons Learned from the Action for Health in Diabetes Study into Practice

The Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) enrolled 5,145 obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from across sixteen sites and randomly allocated them to intervention or control groups. The participants were followed annually for a wide range of outcomes, with major assessments at one, four, and eight years. Over a third of these individuals self-identified as a member of a racial/ethnic minority group.

This study followed the largest sample of minority individuals with T2DM and documents at Year 8 the best long term weight loss data reported in these groups of minority individuals. This is particularly critical in that racial and ethnic minority men and women are at elevated risk for T2DM and obesity. Look AHEAD data offers important insights into the weight loss experiences of these minority men and women. The first speaker will discuss the successful behavioral strategies which enabled these minority participants to achieve weight loss and glycemic control.

The second speaker will present new results of the Real Health-Diabetes trial, one of the first translations of Look AHEAD's lifestyle intervention for delivery in usual care. Results of a six-month pilot and a one-year randomized controlled trial in participants with T2DM will be discussed.

Planned with the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group.

CPE Level: Level 2
CPEU: 1.0

Performance Indicators

• 12.5.5 Presents evaluation findings, outcomes and recommendations to stakeholders to promote change and/or substantiate program.
• 6.2.3 Interprets data to make recommendations and to inform decisions
• 9.6.1 Determines and applies counseling theories, psychological methods and strategies that empower customers to make changes.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the significant outcomes of the Look AHEAD study
• Describe the behavioral techniques that were successful within the various minority groups of Look AHEAD
• Describe translation research of an adaptation of Look AHEAD's lifestyle intervention for delivery in usual care

Speakers

• Delia West
• Linda Delahanty