Eight-year weight losses with an intensive lifestyle intervention: the look AHEAD study - PubMed
Randomized Controlled Trial
Eight-year weight losses with an intensive lifestyle intervention: the look AHEAD study
Look AHEAD Research Group. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014 Jan.
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate 8-year weight losses achieved with intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study.
Design and methods: Look AHEAD assessed the effects of intentional weight loss on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in 5,145 overweight/obese adults with type 2 diabetes, randomly assigned to ILI or usual care (i.e., diabetes support and education [DSE]). The ILI provided comprehensive behavioral weight loss counseling over 8 years; DSE participants received periodic group education only.
Results: All participants had the opportunity to complete 8 years of intervention before Look AHEAD was halted in September 2012; ≥88% of both groups completed the 8-year outcomes assessment. ILI and DSE participants lost (mean ± SE) 4.7% ± 0.2% and 2.1 ± 0.2% of initial weight, respectively (P < 0.001) at year 8; 50.3% and 35.7%, respectively, lost ≥5% (P < 0.001), and 26.9% and 17.2%, respectively, lost ≥10% (P < 0.001). Across the 8 years ILI participants, compared with DSE, reported greater practice of several key weight-control behaviors. These behaviors also distinguished ILI participants who lost ≥10% and kept it off from those who lost but regained.
Conclusions: Look AHEAD's ILI produced clinically meaningful weight loss (≥5%) at year 8 in 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes and can be used to manage other obesity-related co-morbid conditions.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00017953.
Copyright © 2013 The Obesity Society.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: All authors will submit the ICMJE Form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.
Figures

Flowchart for screening, randomization, and follow-up of participants. Participants who did not complete outcome assessments in years 1 through 8 had either died, withdrawn from the study, or missed the assessment.

Figure shows mean (±SE) weight losses over 8 years for participants randomly assigned to an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) or diabetes support and education (DSE; usual care group). Differences between groups were significant (p<0.001) at all years.

Figure 3(a). Percentage of participants in the ILI and DSE groups who achieved different categorical weight losses at year 1. The percentages are cumulative such that the 68% of ILI participants who lost 5% or more of initial weight includes those who also lost ≥10% and ≥15%. P<0.001 for all comparisons between treatment groups. Figure 3(b). Percentage of participants in the ILI and DSE groups who achieved different categorical weight losses at year 8. The percentages are cumulative as described for Figure 1(A). P<0.001 for all comparisons between treatment groups.

Figure 4(a). Weight loss trajectories over 8 years in 825 participants in the intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) who, at year 1, lost ≥10% of initial weight and, at year 8, provided a measured body weight. The figure shows the number of participants who, at year 8, maintained a loss of 10% or more of initial weight (N=324), of 5.0–9.9% (N=213), of 0–4.9% (N=171), or who gained above their baseline weight (N=117). The percentages shown in parentheses are based on the sample size for the subgroup. Thus, the 324 of 825 participants who maintained a ≥10% loss at year 8 comprised 39.3% of this subgroup of participants. Figure 4(b). Weight loss trajectories over 8 years in 633 ILI participants who, at year 1, lost 5.0–9.9% of initial weight and, at year 8, provided a measured body weight. The four categories of weight change that these participants achieved at year 8 are presented in the same manner as in Figure 4(A). Figure 4(c). Weight loss trajectories over 8 years in 656 ILI participants who, at year 1, lost <5% of initial weight and, at year 8, provided a measured body weight. The four categories of weight change that these participants achieved at year 8 are presented in the same manner as in Figure 4(A).
Comment in
-
Effects of behavioral treatment on long-term weight loss: lessons learned from the look AHEAD trial.
Perri MG. Perri MG. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014 Jan;22(1):3-4. doi: 10.1002/oby.20672. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014. PMID: 24415676 No abstract available.
-
Westman EC. Westman EC. Ann Intern Med. 2014 Jun 17;160(12):JC4. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-160-12-201406170-02004. Ann Intern Med. 2014. PMID: 24935510 No abstract available.
Similar articles
-
Four-year weight losses in the Look AHEAD study: factors associated with long-term success.
Wadden TA, Neiberg RH, Wing RR, Clark JM, Delahanty LM, Hill JO, Krakoff J, Otto A, Ryan DH, Vitolins MZ; Look AHEAD Research Group. Wadden TA, et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 Oct;19(10):1987-98. doi: 10.1038/oby.2011.230. Epub 2011 Jul 21. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011. PMID: 21779086 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Unick JL, Beavers D, Jakicic JM, Kitabchi AE, Knowler WC, Wadden TA, Wing RR; Look AHEAD Research Group. Unick JL, et al. Diabetes Care. 2011 Oct;34(10):2152-7. doi: 10.2337/dc11-0874. Epub 2011 Aug 11. Diabetes Care. 2011. PMID: 21836103 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Look AHEAD Research Group. Look AHEAD Research Group. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2014 Oct;2(10):801-9. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70156-1. Epub 2014 Aug 10. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2014. PMID: 25127483 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Franz MJ, Boucher JL, Rutten-Ramos S, VanWormer JJ. Franz MJ, et al. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015 Sep;115(9):1447-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2015.02.031. Epub 2015 Apr 29. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015. PMID: 25935570 Review.
-
The Look AHEAD Trial: Implications for Lifestyle Intervention in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Dutton GR, Lewis CE. Dutton GR, et al. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015 Jul-Aug;58(1):69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2015.04.002. Epub 2015 Apr 30. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015. PMID: 25936906 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Precision Medicine for Obesity.
Cifuentes L, Hurtado A MD, Eckel-Passow J, Acosta A. Cifuentes L, et al. Dig Dis Interv. 2021 Sep;5(3):239-248. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1729945. Dig Dis Interv. 2021. PMID: 36203650 Free PMC article.
-
Jay MR, Wittleder S, Vandyousefi S, Illenberger N, Nicholson A, Sweat V, Meissner P, Angelotti G, Ruan A, Wong L, Aguilar AD, Orstad SL, Sherman S, Armijos E, Belli H, Wylie-Rosett J. Jay MR, et al. Ann Fam Med. 2024 Sep-Oct;22(5):392-399. doi: 10.1370/afm.3150. Ann Fam Med. 2024. PMID: 39313341 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Papamargaritis D, le Roux CW, Holst JJ, Davies MJ. Papamargaritis D, et al. Cardiovasc Res. 2024 Feb 17;119(18):2825-2842. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvac176. Cardiovasc Res. 2024. PMID: 36448672 Free PMC article.
-
Kuna ST, Reboussin DM, Strotmeyer ES, Millman RP, Zammit G, Walkup MP, Wadden TA, Wing RR, Pi-Sunyer FX, Spira AP, Foster GD; Sleep AHEAD Research Subgroup of the Look AHEAD Research Group. Kuna ST, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Jan 15;203(2):221-229. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201912-2511OC. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021. PMID: 32721163 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Weight Loss through Lifestyle Intervention Improves Mobility in Older Adults.
Albert SM, Venditti EM, Boudreau RM, Kieffer LA, Rager JR, Zgibor JC, Vander Bilt J, Danielson ME, Burke LE, Glynn NW, Jakicic JM, Smith KJ, Semler LN, Newman AB. Albert SM, et al. Gerontologist. 2022 Jul 15;62(6):931-941. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnab048. Gerontologist. 2022. PMID: 33822933 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Ryan DA Look AHEAD Research Group. Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes): design and methods for a clinical trial of weight loss for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. Control Clin Trials. 2003;24:610–28. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
- DK57078/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057151/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK57151/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057154/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057171/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057182/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057136/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057002/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057177/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01 RR001066/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057078/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK57008/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01RR000056/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- DK57135/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- UL1 RR 024153/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- P30 DK048520/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057135/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- UL1 RR024153/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- P30 DK046204/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK57171/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01 RR002719/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- DK57131/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01 RR000056/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057219/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK57149/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK056992/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- P30 DK079637/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01RR01066/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- DK57182/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK57002/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- P30 DK079626/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01RR01346/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- DK57178/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- P30 DK48520/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057131/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01 RR000051/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- DK57136/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK57154/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK57219/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- UL1 TR001082/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States
- DK57177/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- UL1 TR001120/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK056990/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057178/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057008/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK56990/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- DK 046204/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- U01 DK057149/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01RR02719/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- M01 RR001346/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
- DK56992/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- P30 DK017047/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
- M01RR00051/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical