Comparative Effectiveness of Clinic-Based Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Obese Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

IN BRIEF In late 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began reimbursing for intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) in primary care settings for obese, adult beneficiaries. The effectiveness of IBT is understudied, however, with no weight loss estimates available for adults with diabetes. This study compared weight change over 1 year between obese adults with type 2 diabetes who did receive IBT to those who did not. Findings indicated that IBT was modestly effective, resulting in ∼3% weight loss over 1 year compared to 1% weight loss in the matched comparison group who did not receive IBT.