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Efficacy of a virtual assistance‐based lifestyle intervention in reducing risk factors for Type 2 diabetes in young employees in the information technology industry in India: LIMIT , a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Limaye T.,
Kumaran K.,
Joglekar C.,
Bhat D.,
Kulkarni R.,
Nanivadekar A.,
Yajnik C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/dme.13258
Subject(s) - medicine , overweight , randomized controlled trial , waist , physical therapy , obesity , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , gerontology , endocrinology
Aims To investigate a virtual assistance‐based lifestyle intervention to reduce risk factors for Type 2 diabetes in young employees in the information technology industry in India. Methods LIMIT (Lifestyle Modification in Information Technology) was a parallel‐group, partially blinded, randomized controlled trial. Employees in the information technology industry with ≥3 risk factors (family history of cardiometabolic disease, overweight/obesity, high blood pressure, impaired fasting glucose, hypertriglyceridaemia, high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol) from two industries were randomized to a control or an intervention (1:1) group. After initial lifestyle advice, the intervention group additionally received reinforcement through mobile phone messages (three per week) and e‐mails (two per week) for 1 year. The primary outcome was change in prevalence of overweight/obesity, analysed by intention to treat. Results Of 437 employees screened (mean age 36.2 ± 9.3 years; 74.8% men), 265 (61.0%) were eligible and randomized into control ( n =132) or intervention ( n =133) group. After 1 year, the prevalence of overweight/obesity reduced by 6.0% in the intervention group and increased by 6.8% in the control group (risk difference 11.2%; 95% CI 1.2–21.1; P =0.042). There were also significant improvements in lifestyle measurements, waist circumference, and total and LDL cholesterol in the intervention group. The number‐needed‐to‐treat to prevent one case of overweight/obesity in 1 year was 9 (95% CI 5–82), with an incremental cost of INR 10665 (£112.30) per case treated/prevented. A total of 98% of participants found the intervention acceptable. Conclusions A virtual assistance‐based lifestyle intervention was effective, cost‐effective and acceptable in reducing risk factors for diabetes in young employees in the information technology industry, and is potentially scalable.