A successful lifestyle intervention model replicated in diverse clinical settings

• Published in: South African medical journal Vol. 106; no. 8; pp. 763 - 766
• Main Authors: Mark, Sean, Du Toit, Stefan, Noakes, Timothy D, Nordli, Kim, Coetzee, Douwette, Makin, Michael, Van der Spuy, Shani, Frey, Justin, Wortman, Jay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa Health & Medical Publishing Group 01.08.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Canada - epidemiology; Care and treatment; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Female; Health aspects; Health promotion; Healthy Lifestyle; Humans; Life style; Male; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic Syndrome - psychology; Metabolic Syndrome - therapy; Methods; Middle Aged; Preventive Health Services - methods; Preventive Health Services - standards; Primary health care; Primary Health Care - methods; Primary Health Care - organization & administration; Program Evaluation; Quality Improvement - organization & administration; Risk Factors; Rural Health Services - standards; Rural Health Services - statistics & numerical data; Type 2 diabetes
• DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i8.10136
• ISSN: 0256-9574

Lifestyle interventions can treat metabolic syndrome and prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus, but they remain underutilised in routine practice. In 2010, an LI model was created in a rural primary care practice and spread with few resources to four other rural practices. A retrospective chart review evaluated changes in health indicators in two practice environments by following 372 participants, mainly women (mean age 52 years). Participants had a mean body mass index of 37 kg/m2at baseline and lost an average of 12% of their initial body weight as a result of the intervention. Among participants at the first intervention site for whom cardiometabolic data were available, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome decreased from 58% at baseline to 19% at follow-up. Taken as a whole, our experience suggests that LIs are feasible and deliver meaningful results in routine primary care practice.