The Live Well, Be Well study: a community-based, translational lifestyle program to lower diabetes risk factors in ethnic minority and lower-socioeconomic status adults

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated a community-based, translational lifestyle program to reduce diabetes risk in lower-socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnic minority adults.

Methods: Through an academic-public health department partnership, community-dwelling adults at risk for diabetes were randomly assigned to individualized lifestyle counseling delivered primarily via telephone by health department counselors or a wait-list control group. Primary outcomes (6 and 12 months) were fasting glucose level, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, weight, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure. Secondary outcomes included diet, physical activity, and health-related quality of life.

Results: Of the 230 participants, study retention was 92%. The 6-month group differences for weight and triglycerides were significant. The intervention group lost 2 pounds more than did the control group (P=.03) and had decreased triglyceride levels (difference in change, 23 mg/dL; P=.02). At 6 months, the intervention group consumed 7.7 fewer grams per day of fat (P=.05) and more fruits and vegetables (P=.02) than did control participants.

Conclusions: Despite challenges designing effective translational interventions for lower-SES and minority communities, this program modestly improved some diabetes risk factors. Thus, individualized, telephone-based models may be a promising alternative to group-based interventions.

FIGURE 1—

Flow of participants from screening to completion of the final follow-up assessment: Live Well, Be Well program, Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond, California, July 2006–August 2009.