A study by the University of Southern California and the University of Minnesota has revealed a positive association between intensive lifestyle interventions for people with type 2 diabetes and employment rates.
Researchers found there was a 4% rise in employment among participants who underwent sessions focused on lifestyle changes, with a 7% increase in employment among those without a college degree.
Participants, all of whom had type 2 diabetes and were overweight or obese, were divided into two groups:
The first group underwent an intensive lifestyle intervention. This included weekly one-on-one sessions with health professionals for the first six months, which reduced to monthly sessions by the fourth year.
The control group participated in group-based diabetes education and support sessions thrice yearly for the first four years, followed by an annual session.
The intensive lifestyle intervention group showed an 8% weight reduction in the first year, a 10% boost in physical fitness in the initial four years, and a 48% reduction in mobility loss during the same period.
Improvements in physical function seemed more vital for participants with physically demanding jobs, often those without a college degree.
This study is pioneering in connecting clinical trial data with Social Security Administration records, offering insights into the relationship between effective chronic disease management and labor market results.
For this study, a total of 3,091 participants (aged between 45 and 75) were analyzed, assessing the impacts of interventions on employment, earnings, and disability benefits.
The research is an ancillary study to the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) randomized clinical trial.
The primary aim of Look AHEAD was to determine if intentional weight loss could decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Dana Goldman, one of the principal investigators of the study, emphasized the study’s innovation in integrating trial data with administrative histories.
She highlighted that the findings showcase the long-term economic advantages of enhanced lifestyle management for type 2 diabetes patients.
Peter Huckfeldt, the lead author, stated that the results add to the understanding of how health influences socioeconomic status.
The findings indicate that enhancing health in the later stages of life can also yield economic advantages, primarily by extending one’s working capabilities.
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The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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