Extra counselling helped overweight women with diabetes lose more weight

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   217 women with type 2 diabetes took part, all overweight, in Alabama, USA. On average they were about 53, and 38 in every 100 were African American.

2. 02

   What they did

   All the women joined the same 18-month group weight-loss programme. On top of it, one group had five one-on-one counselling sessions about their own reasons for change. The other group had five one-on-one health talks instead, spread over a year.

3. 03

   What happened

   Women who had counselling lost more weight at every check-up: 3.5 kg against 1.7 kg after 18 months. They also went to more group sessions and handed in more diaries, which the authors say explains the extra weight loss. Blood sugar fell more at six months, but there was no difference at 12 or 18 months.

What the study found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   Women who had counselling lost more weight at every check-up, up to 18 months.

   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 217 overweight women with type 2 diabetes · vs women who had health talks instead · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

2. MixedOther outcomes

   Blood sugar fell more with counselling at six months, but not at 12 or 18 months.

   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 217 overweight women with type 2 diabetes · vs women who had health talks instead · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

3. HelpedGoals

   Women who had counselling handed in more food and activity diaries at 6, 12 and 18 months.

   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Action: Track your progressused
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progressused
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 217 overweight women with type 2 diabetes · vs women who had health talks instead · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

Source