Heavy people with type 2 diabetes who lose a modest amount of weight and keep it off get many long-term health benefits such as reducing their risk of chronic kidney disease, depression and eye disease, according to the latest findings of a landmark study.
They also have better blood sugar control, improved quality of life and fewer hospitalizations, and they take less medication, thus reducing medical costs.
But the weight loss doesn't lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The study's authors reported that information last fall.
"Weight loss is still important, but the reasons why it is important are different than we thought," says Rena Wing, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and chairman of the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study.
The study was designed to see whether weight loss reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Wing and other investigators presented their findings Monday at the American Diabetes Association's annual scientific meeting in Chicago.
Read more http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/24/diabetes-weight-loss-health/2450393/
They also have better blood sugar control, improved quality of life and fewer hospitalizations, and they take less medication, thus reducing medical costs.
But the weight loss doesn't lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The study's authors reported that information last fall.
"Weight loss is still important, but the reasons why it is important are different than we thought," says Rena Wing, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and chairman of the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study.
The study was designed to see whether weight loss reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Wing and other investigators presented their findings Monday at the American Diabetes Association's annual scientific meeting in Chicago.
Read more http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/24/diabetes-weight-loss-health/2450393/