Media coverage
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Media coverage
Title Referring NHS patients to Weight Watchers classes cut their diabetes risk by half, study suggests Media name/outlet Daily Mail Media type Web Country/Territory United Kingdom Date 22/10/17 Description Patients sent on the programme recorded weight loss of 22lbs (10kg) on average
The participants all had pre-diabetes - a risk factor for the full-blown condition
Weight Watchers paid towards the publication of the research on 117 patients
Experts have welcomed the trial, describing it as 'positive' and 'encouraging'
GPs should send patients who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to Weight Watchers, a new study suggests.
Researchers found more than half of those referred curbed their risk of going on to suffer from the potentially deadly condition.
Some 38 per cent of the patients, who had pre-diabetes - a risk factor the full-blown condition, returned to normal blood sugar levels after a year.
Patients sent on the commercial programme also recorded weight loss of 22lbs (10kg) after just a year on average - which keeps type 2 diabetes at bay.
Pre-diabetes is where blood sugar levels are above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having the condition.
Some 38 per cent of the patients, who had pre-diabetes - a risk factor the full-blown condition, returned to normal blood sugar levels after a year of Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers paid for publication of the research, which was released in the BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care.
Experts have welcomed the latest findings, describing the results as 'positive' and 'encouraging'.
How was the study carried out?
The new study, led by Westminster University and Bromley Council saw participants recruited through 14 GP practices in the London borough.
What did they find?
Of the 117 patients who took part in the study, 38 per cent had returned to normal blood sugar levels after a year.
A further 15 per cent had reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by reducing their blood glucose. Just 3 per cent had gone on to develop the condition.
At 12 months, 54 per cent of patients achieved a greater than a 7 per cent reduction in body weight, the researchers found.
By STEPHEN MATTHEWS FOR MAILONLINE and PA
PUBLISHED: 23:30, 16 October 2017 | UPDATED: 14:54, 22 October 2017URL https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4985782/Refer-NHS-patients-Weight-Watchers-study-suggests.html Persons Amanda R A Adegboye