Posted on March 21, 2001 at 3:20 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Researchers at UAB are conducting a comparative study of two effective weight loss programs for women with non-insulin dependant diabetes. Both programs include a comprehensive intervention program and one-on-one focused sessions. One program will include individual consultations on healthy living. The other will offer individual motivational sessions.

"Non-insulin dependant diabetes is an epidemic in the country," says Delia West, Ph.D., associate professor of preventive medicine at UAB. "Younger and younger adults are being diagnosed with this type of diabetes. It is of specific concern to African-American women who have a higher rate of the disease."

The study, called Nutrition, Exercise and Weight Loss: Diabetes and You (NEW DAY), is designed for women with diabetes, since they stand to benefit more from long-term weight loss than those who do not have a chronic disease. "Weight loss is particularly important for overweight people with diabetes, since maintaining a healthy weight helps manage the disease," says West.

Researchers are recruiting 218 women for participation in the study, at no charge to participants. Volunteers will be randomly assigned to one of the weight loss programs. "But everyone will get the best we have to offer," says West. "Both programs have been shown to be effective. We are looking to see if one is more effective than the other in providing better long-term results."

Volunteers will attend weekly one-hour group meetings and will receive medical evaluations every six months for 18 months. "Group meetings will focus on ways to change diet and exercise behaviors to lose weight, improve health and control blood sugar levels," says West.

To participate in the study, women must be 19 years old or older, overweight, taking oral medication (not insulin) for their diabetes, and able to walk for exercise. For more information, call (205) 975-7913.

NOTE TO EDITORS: March 27 is the American Diabetes Alert, a national program of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) aimed at increasing awareness of diabetes and encouraging people to find out if they are at risk for the disease. More information is available on the Web at www.diabetes.org/alert or by contacting ADA at (800) DIABETES.