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Meta-Analysis
. 2012 Dec;35(12):2681-9.
doi: 10.2337/dc11-2452.

Changing physical activity behavior in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of behavioral interventions

Leah Avery  1 , Darren Flynn, Anna van Wersch, Falko F Sniehotta, Michael I Trenell
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Changing physical activity behavior in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of behavioral interventions

Leah Avery et al. Diabetes Care. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: Behavioral interventions targeting "free-living" physical activity (PA) and exercise that produce long-term glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes are warranted. However, little is known about how clinical teams should support adults with type 2 diabetes to achieve and sustain a physically active lifestyle.

Research design and methods: We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (published up to January 2012) to establish the effect of behavioral interventions (compared with usual care) on free-living PA/exercise, HbA(1c), and BMI in adults with type 2 diabetes. Study characteristics, methodological quality, practical strategies for increasing PA/exercise (taxonomy of behavior change techniques), and treatment fidelity strategies were captured using a data extraction form.

Results: Seventeen RCTs fulfilled the review criteria. Behavioural interventions showed statistically significant increases in objective (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.68) and self-reported PA/exercise (SMD 0.79, 95% CI 0.59-0.98) including clinically significant improvements in HbA(1c) (weighted mean difference [WMD] -0.32%, 95% CI -0.44% to -0.21%) and BMI (WMD -1.05 kg/m(2), 95% CI -1.31 to -0.80). Few studies provided details of treatment fidelity strategies to monitor/improve provider training. Intervention features (e.g., specific behavior change techniques, interventions underpinned by behavior change theories/models, and use of ≥10 behaviour change techniques) moderated effectiveness of behavioral interventions.

Conclusions: Behavioral interventions increased free-living PA/exercise and produced clinically significant improvements in long-term glucose control. Future studies should consider use of theory and multiple behavior change techniques associated with clinically significant improvements in HbA(1c), including structured training for care providers on the delivery of behavioural interventions.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Forest plot for objective PA and exercise. (A high-quality color representation of this figure is available in the online issue.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot for HbA1c. (A high-quality color representation of this figure is available in the online issue.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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