Lifestyle Changes Observed among Adults Participating in a Family- and Community-Based Intervention for Diabetes Prevention in Europe: The 1st Year Results of the Feel4Diabetes-Study

Abstract

<jats:p>The Feel4Diabetes intervention was a school and community-based intervention aiming to promote healthy lifestyle and tackle obesity and obesity-related metabolic risk factors for the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among families at risk of developing this disease. The current study aims to present the results on lifestyle behaviors obtained from parents during the first year of the Feel4Diabetes intervention. This multicomponent intervention had a cluster randomized design and was implemented in Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Spain over two years (2016–2018). Standardized protocols and procedures were used by the participating centers in all countries to collect data on parents’ lifestyle behaviors (diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior). The Feel4Diabetes intervention was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (registration number: NCT02393872). In total, 2110 high-risk parents participated in the baseline and 12-month follow-up examination measurements. Participants allocated to the intervention group reduced their daily consumption of sugary drinks (p = 0.037) and sweets (p = 0.031) and their daily screen time (p = 0.032), compared with the control group. In addition, participants in the intervention group in Greece and Spain increased their consumption of breakfast (p = 0.034) and fruits (p = 0.029), while in Belgium and Finland they increased their water intake (p = 0.024). These findings indicate that the first year of the Feel4Diabetes intervention resulted in the improvement of certain lifestyle behaviors in parents from high-risk families.</jats:p>

The effect of a cluster-randomized controlled trial on lifestyle behaviors among families at risk for developing type 2 diabetes across Europe: the Feel4Diabetes-study

“…The counselling sessions included behavioral change techniques aiming to increase motivation and self-efficacy, improve their self-regulation and set goals to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle. A more detailed description of the content of the counseling sessions can be found elsewhere [ 26 , 27 ].…”

“…The 1-year effects of this Feel4Diabetes-intervention on secondary outcome variables have already been reported [ 27 ]. The latter results only focused on at risk parents’ lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behaviors and eating behaviors) and did not include the 2-year outcomes.…”

A Community Health Volunteer Involvement Program for Glycated Hemoglobin Reduction Among Thai Patients With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Method Study

“… 3 , 4 Additionally, family support is used to promote lifestyle change sustainability. 5 , 6 Despite programs with such available support, Thai patients with uncontrolled T2DM continue to increase. 7…”

“…3,4 Additionally, family support is used to promote lifestyle change sustainability. 5,6 Despite programs with such available support, Thai patients with uncontrolled T2DM continue to increase. 7 For patients' health, 3 interaction systems (personal, interpersonal, and social systems) are crucial.…”

The Role of Lifestyle, Eating Habits and Social Environment in the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension

“…Regarding intervention studies, results from the large school and community-based intervention “The Feel4Diabetes Study”, targeting high risk families for developing T2DM, Manios et al, showed that an approach including counselling sessions for behavior modification was particularly successful by decreasing sugary food items and sedentary time, and increasing breakfast and fruit intake [ 4 ]. The study of Amer et al [ 5 ], conducted in adults with prediabetes in Saudi Arabia showed that an 18-month intensive program for lifestyle modification was successful for reversing prediabetes.…”