Over 25% of the US population >65 years of age have type 2 diabetes and 80% of these individuals are overweight or obese. These individuals face shortened lifespans, increased health care needs, greater medical complications, and lower quality of life relative to those of similar age without these conditions. Lifestyle interventions focused on weight loss are recommended for overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes, but whether these interventions meaningfully improve the lives of older individuals with diabetes over extended follow-up is unknown. Look AHEAD is a randomized trial comparing the effects of intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) focused on weight loss achieved through healthy eating and increased physical activity versus a control group given Diabetes Support and Education (DSE) in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Although ILI did not produce beneficial effects on the primary and secondary outcomes related to cardiovascular disease, it did produce beneficial effects on a broad spectrum of health parameters during the period of the intervention. The LA Extension (LA-E) will examine whether ILI, provided for 10 years during mid- life, has enduring benefits that persist beyond the period of the intervention for older individuals with diabetes. We propose to follow approximately 3,800 participants (current ages 58-89 years) for 4.5 additional years with biennial clinic visits and 6-month outcomes phone calls. The primary aims of LA-E are to test whether ILI relative to DSE has long term legacy effects on 1) increased lifespan and 2) reduced health care costs. Secondary aims test whether ILI relative to DSE has long-term effects on key dimensions of healthy aging: less frailty, reduced diabetic microvascular complications, and improved quality of life. LA-E will also compare long- term trajectories of weight, physical activity, fat and lean mass, and bone density and examine how these are related to outcomes. LA-E focuses on the clinical outcomes that are most relevant to healthy aging and resilience and will provide the long-term data needed to frame guidelines related to lifestyle intervention in the care of older overweight or obese individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Public Health Relevance

Weight loss is recommended for overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes, but the long-term effects of such approaches on the issues of greatest concern to older individuals --including mortality, health care utilization and costs, diabetic complications, quality of life, and frailty -- remain untested. The Look AHEAD-Extension will follow approximately 3800 of these individuals for an additional 4.5 years to determine whether random assignment to an intensive lifestyle intervention focused on weight loss achieved through healthy eating and increased physical activity relative to a control group leads to improved long-term health in later life. This extended follow-up will provide important information about the long-term beneficial effects of a lifestyle intervention in a growing segment of the population-namely those who are older, overweight or obese, and have type 2 diabetes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01DK057149-19
Application #
9416129
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1)
Program Officer
Evans, Mary
Project Start
1999-09-30
Project End
2021-01-31
Budget Start
2018-02-01
Budget End
2019-01-31
Support Year
19
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
Pilla, Scott J; Dotimas, James R; Maruthur, Nisa M et al. (2018) Changes in metformin use and other antihyperglycemic therapies after insulin initiation in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 139:221-229
Hayden, Kathleen M; Baker, Laura D; Bray, George et al. (2018) Long-term impact of intensive lifestyle intervention on cognitive function assessed with the National Institutes of Health Toolbox: The Look AHEAD study. Alzheimers Dement (Amst) 10:41-48
Brinkley, Tina E; Anderson, Andrea; Soliman, Elsayed Z et al. (2018) Long-Term Effects of an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on Electrocardiographic Criteria for Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: The Look AHEAD Trial. Am J Hypertens 31:541-548
Unick, Jessica L; Gaussoin, Sarah A; Hill, James O et al. (2017) Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and Weight Loss Maintenance among Individuals Enrolled in a Lifestyle Intervention. Obesity (Silver Spring) 25:1903-1909
Sanguankeo, Anawin; Lazo, Mariana; Upala, Sikarin et al. (2017) Effects of visceral adipose tissue reduction on CVD risk factors independent of weight loss: The Look AHEAD study. Endocr Res 42:86-95
Johnson, Karen C; Bray, George A; Cheskin, Lawrence J et al. (2017) The Effect of Intentional Weight Loss on Fracture Risk in Persons With Diabetes: Results From the Look AHEAD Randomized Clinical Trial. J Bone Miner Res 32:2278-2287
Rapp, Stephen R; Luchsinger, Jose A; Baker, Laura D et al. (2017) Effect of a Long-Term Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on Cognitive Function: Action for Health in Diabetes Study. J Am Geriatr Soc 65:966-972
Beavers, Kristen M; Leng, Iris; Rapp, Stephen R et al. (2017) Effects of Longitudinal Glucose Exposure on Cognitive and Physical Function: Results from the Action for Health in Diabetes Movement and Memory Study. J Am Geriatr Soc 65:137-145
Chao, Ariana M; Wadden, Thomas A; Gorin, Amy A et al. (2017) Binge Eating and Weight Loss Outcomes in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: 4-Year Results from the Look AHEAD Study. Obesity (Silver Spring) 25:1830-1837
Wing, Rena R; Espeland, Mark A; Clark, Jeanne M et al. (2016) Association of Weight Loss Maintenance and Weight Regain on 4-Year Changes in CVD Risk Factors: the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Clinical Trial. Diabetes Care 39:1345-55

Showing the most recent 10 out of 107 publications