Impact of Age on Community Diabetes Prevention Program Attendance and Weight Loss Goals

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention demonstrated that meeting the weight loss (WL) and activity goals prevents/delays type 2 diabetes. Older DPP participants, 60-85 years, reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 71% versus 58% in those <60 years. Currently, community translated DPP-based lifestyle interventions including Group Lifestyle Balance (DPP-GLB), are reimbursed by Medicare for overweight/obese older adults with prediabetes. This effort examined the impact of age group (60-65: reference, 66-70, ≥71 years) on both DPP-GLB maintenance session attendance (months 7-12) and achieving the 5% WL goals at 6- and 12-months. Data were combined from two identical 12-month DPP-GLB intervention trials involving overweight/obese adults with prediabetes and/or metabolic syndrome. Participants ≥60 years attending ≥4 sessions (months 0-6), with complete data on session attendance and WL were included (n=145; age=68.7 + 5.8 years, range 60-88; 79% women). Participants aged 66-70 years (N=46) were more likely to meet the 6-month 5% WL goal (67.4%) vs. 60-65 years (N=51; 45.1%; p=0.03). Participants aged 66-70 (69.6%) and ≥71 years (N=48; 60.4%) were more likely to meet the 12-month WL goal vs. 60-65 years (35.3%; 66-70: p=0.0007; ≥71: p=0.01). Maintenance attendance did not vary by age group with approximately 30% of each group attending ≥4 of 6 maintenance sessions (p=0.55). In conclusion, adults 66+ vs. 60-65 years more successfully met the clinically meaningful 5% WL goals at 6 and 12 months. With nationwide implementation of community-based “real-world” DPP-GLB lifestyle interventions, better understanding of program success across older adult age groups will enhance program reach and effectiveness.