PrediabetesPreventionNutrition & Diet
Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Intensive lifestyle programme cuts type 2 diabetes risk by 57% in European prediabetes trial

Last updated June 11, 2026

Key finding

HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.60) p<0.001; 45/379 intervention vs 94/370 control

This study combined data from three European trials of lifestyle programmes for people with prediabetes. The lifestyle programme cut diabetes risk by 57% overall, and those who lost 5% or more of their body weight in the first year had a 65% lower risk. Keeping the weight off for longer led to even greater protection.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

High

Study type

Pooled IPD analysis of three randomised controlled trials

Follow-up

Long-Term (1–5 y)

Risk of bias

Low Risk

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Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study combined data from three European trials of lifestyle programmes for people with prediabetes. The lifestyle programme cut diabetes risk by 57% overall, and those who lost 5% or more of their body weight in the first year had a 65% lower risk. Keeping the weight off for longer led to even greater protection.

Clinical relevance

This pooled analysis reinforces the strong evidence that lifestyle intervention works for diabetes prevention across different European populations. The finding that 5% weight loss is a simple, meaningful target is important for monitoring real-world programmes. The risk prediction analysis highlights the challenge of deciding who to prioritise for limited prevention resources.

Keep in mind

Pooled analysis combines trials with some variability in intervention delivery across sites Weight loss analysis is per-protocol, not ITT — people who lost weight may have differed in other ways Limited to three European populations — may not generalise to other regions or ethnic groups Follow-up limited to mean 3.1 years

Main Effects

↓ T2D incidence by 57% in lifestyle intervention vs control (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.29–0.60, p<0.001)

↓ T2D incidence by 65% in those with ≥5% weight loss at 1 year (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.22–0.56, p<0.001)

Sustained ≥5% weight loss at 2–3 years associated with further risk reduction

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes and Body weight, Type 2 diabetes incidence.

Primary intervention

Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes

Primary outcomes

  • Body weight
  • Type 2 diabetes incidence

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

2
Evidence pairs
2
Relationships
2
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

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Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 57

2

Related topics

2

Evidence pairs

340

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 2 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 2 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

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Primary evidence

Evidence topic

Prediabetes

matched_intervention_and_outcome

Related evidence

Evidence topic

Weight Loss

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Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Body weight

Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Body weight

Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
85
Strong
ImpactScore™
63
Slightly Positive
ConsistencyScore™
75
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 8 studies
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Type 2 diabetes incidence

Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Type 2 diabetes incidence

Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Type 2 diabetes incidence

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Strong
Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
ImpactScore™
67
Slightly Positive
ConsistencyScore™
67
generally_consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 3 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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keep in mind

Keep in Mind

  • Pooled analysis combines trials with some variability in intervention delivery across sites Weight loss analysis is per-protocol, not ITT — people who lost weight may have differed in other ways Limited to three European populations — may not generalise to other regions or ethnic groups Follow-up limited to mean 3.1 years
between the lines

Between the Lines

  • Pooled analysis combines trials with some variability in intervention delivery across sites Weight loss analysis is per-protocol, not ITT — people who lost weight may have differed in other ways Limited to three European populations — may not generalise to other regions or ethnic groups Follow-up limited to mean 3.1 years

Evidence Library

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Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes and Body Weight, Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes and Diabetes Incidence and Prevention.

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes affect body weight?

Strong Evidence

Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes may improve Body weight.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Body weight

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 85.3 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes improve type 2 diabetes incidence?

Strong Evidence

Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes may improve Type 2 diabetes incidence.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Type 2 diabetes incidence

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 79.0 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Generally Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026
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