AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR CHANGING THE LIFESTYLES OF PERSONS WITH OBESITY AND/OR TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Objective: To describe the multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention model used in an experimental CURIAMO project designed to validate the short and long-term efficacy of the model in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Research Design and Methods: Over a three-year period, about 1,000 adults (70% diabetesfree and overweight or obese; 30% with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obese). Inclusion criteria: age range, 18 to 80 years of age, BMI over 27 kg/m2 with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; participants will be divided into three age groups (18-45; 45-65; 65-80 years). The study duration will be from five to six years: 1 year of intervention followed by a mean follow-up period of 4 years. In the first years, after a four month intensive lifestyle intervention, subjects will follow a maintenance programme. The intervention, which includes seven steps, involves the following experts: endocrinologists, sport medicine doctors or cardiologists, psychologists, dieticians, educators, nurses, exercise physiologists, and promoters of outdoor activities. Results: The main endpoint of the study is to measure the efficacy of the lifestyle improvement intervention, defined as a loss of at least 7% of body weight combined with an increase of at least 10 MET/h-1.week-1 of energy expenditure by physical activity, after 1 year and during the follow-up. A cost/utility analysis of the model will be made in participants with diabetes. Conclusions: We expect that the CURIAMO model will be highly effective, and that the aim of the intervention will be achieved in more than 70% of cases.