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Joslin’s ‘Why WAIT?’ improved weight loss, glycemic control
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PHILADELPHIA — Four-year longitudinal data presented here at the American Association of Diabetes Educators Meeting and Exhibition demonstrate benefits of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes.
According to Gillian Arathuzik, RD, LDN, CDE, and Amanda Kirpitch, MA, RD, LDN, CDE, of Joslin Diabetes Center, HbA1c and other outcomes in obese patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated in the 12-week Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment (Why WAIT) program.
“Components of the Why WAIT program included an interactive, intensive diabetes treatment with structured dietary intervention, graded-balanced and individualized exercise plan, cognitive behavioral support and group adult education sessions,” Kirpitch said.
Gillian Arathuzik
Patients (n=119) demonstrated a baseline HbA1c of 7.3% in group A (n=55) compared with 7.4% in group B (n=64). Their baseline weight for group A was 249.5 lb compared with 241.5 lb in group B.
One year following the program, patients were split into two groups: those who could maintain weight loss vs. those who gained weight, according to Arathuzik.
Amanda Kirpitch
At 12 weeks, group A lost 29.2 lb compared with a 19.6 lb loss in group B At 1 year, group A lost 23.9 lb compared with a 6.9 lb weight loss in group B. At the conclusion of the 4-year study, 47.5% of group A patients maintained their weight loss (9.5% weight loss), whereas 52.5% of group B patients regained weight, with a total loss of 8.8%. Further data indicate significant changes to HbA1c at the 4-year follow-up (6.9% in group A vs. 7.5% in group B).
“We’re teaching patients to use multidisciplinary programs like Why WAIT as a tool to manage their diabetes; not just weight loss for fun,” Arathuzik said. – by Samantha Costa
For more information:
Arathuzik G. #W20A. Presented at: American Association of Diabetes Educators Annual Meeting and Exhibition; August 7-10; Philadelphia.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Susan Grinslade, APRN, PhD, RN
I liked the combination of the various interventions the researchers used and the results they acquired by using them. From the presentation I got a sense that this team really worked well with the patients who were in the program. They’ve identified some things through their results that they need to continue to look at in order to fine tune and tweak the program so that those patients who continued to gain weight could have another type of intervention to help them achieve better results.
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