Last updated August 21, 2026
Key finding
Those who lost more than 10% of their baseline body weight performed on average 11 mins/day more light activity than the <10% group at 24 months.
The DiRECT study investigated the effects of a dietary weight management program versus best-practice care in individuals with type 2 diabetes, revealing significant differences in physical activity and sleep patterns.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Long-Term (1–5 y)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
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Study focus
The DiRECT study investigated the effects of a dietary weight management program versus best-practice care in individuals with type 2 diabetes, revealing significant differences in physical activity and sleep patterns.
These findings highlight the potential benefits of structured weight management programs for individuals with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that weight loss can enhance physical activity levels and improve sleep quality, which are critical factors in managing diabetes and overall health.
The effectiveness of the interventions remains unclear due to variability in outcomes. The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the specific population studied. Potential confounding factors were not fully controlled for in the analysis.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Sophie C, Michael T, Renae JS, et al. Randomised trial of weight management and physical activity in type 2 diabetes: the DiRECT study. Diabetic Medicine. 2022;40(3):e15010. doi:10.1111/dme.15010
Participants who lost more than 10% of their baseline body weight engaged in 11 mins/day more light activity than those who lost less.
The ≥10% weight loss group showed higher daily acceleration (38.5 ± 12.1 m g) compared to the <10% group (33.2 ± 11.1 m g, p = 0.020).
Wakefulness after sleep onset decreased in the intervention group compared to the control group.
Evidence network
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This study contributes evidence to Dietary weight management programme and Average Daily Acceleration, Average light activity in minutes per day, Inactivity, and 2 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Dietary weight management programme
Primary outcomes
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
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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.
3
Related topics
5
Evidence pairs
171
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Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
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Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence topic
matched_outcome
Related evidence
Evidence topic
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Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Dietary weight management programme → Average Daily Acceleration
Dietary weight management programme → Average Daily Acceleration
Dietary weight management programme → Average light activity in minutes per day
Dietary weight management programme → Average light activity in minutes per day
Dietary weight management programme → Inactivity
Dietary weight management programme → Inactivity
Dietary weight management programme → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)
Dietary weight management programme → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)
Dietary weight management programme → Wake time after sleep onset in minutes
Dietary weight management programme → Wake time after sleep onset in minutes
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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Dietary weight management programme and Average Daily Acceleration, Dietary weight management programme and Inactivity.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Diet and Nutrition
Diet and Nutrition
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Average Daily Acceleration
Measures Average Daily Acceleration as a key outcome.
All studies on Dietary weight management programme
Contributes to Dietary weight management programme evidence base.
All studies measuring Inactivity
Measures Inactivity as a key outcome.
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1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Dietary weight management programme appears to improve average daily acceleration.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Average Daily Acceleration
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Dietary weight management programme appears to improve average light activity in minutes per day.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Average light activity in minutes per day
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Dietary weight management programme appears to improve wake time after sleep onset in minutes.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Wake time after sleep onset in minutes
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Dietary weight management programme for inactivity.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Inactivity
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
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