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Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, OPTIFAST lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes

Recent findings published in Obesity Reviews showed that the weight-loss programs Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and OPTIFAST lowered blood sugar for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, there was not enough evidence to determine this effect for patients without type 2 diabetes.

“Jenny Craig reduced A1c more than counselling at 12 months and Nutrisystem and OPTIFAST showed promising short-term results,” Zoobia Wazir Chaudhry, MD, study co-author and assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “Among overweight and obese individuals without type 2 diabetes, the paucity of evidence limits our ability to draw conclusions and emphasizes the need for additional research in this area.”

Although studies have assessed the efficacy of commercial weight loss programs, few have examined their effect on hemoglobin A1c or blood glucose, the researchers wrote.

To examine this effect, the researchers performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with a duration of at least 12 weeks. The review included 18 studies. Within the few studies that included patients with type 2 diabetes, Jenny Craig was found to reduce A1c at least 0.4% more than counselling at 12 months. In addition, Nutrisystem reduced A1c 0.3% more than counselling at 6 months and OPTIFAST reduced A1c 0.3% more than counselling at 6 months.

Few studies evaluated glycemic outcomes in patients without type 2 diabetes, and in these, there were no significant reductions in A1c

“Despite the evidence and recommendations, there are limited options in the community that offer intensive lifestyle interventions,” the researchers wrote. “Thus, clinicians may consider commercial weight loss programs as a substitute given their ready availability.” – by Will Offit

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.