Editors: David L. Joffe, BSPharm, CDE, FACA
No A study of women who have had gestational diabetes observed differences in barriers to weight loss and successful weight loss between intermittent (IER) and continuous (CER) dieters.
Gestational diabetes causes women to be nearly 10 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women who have no history of gestational diabetes. One of the things that overweight women can do to minimize the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is to lose weight. However, barriers to achieving weight loss usually affect attempts and motivation. One of the new ways to lose weight is intermittent energy limitation (IER). Research suggests that IER can achieve results similar to continuous energy limitations, but further research is needed to fully support this claim. Still, understanding how barriers affect weight loss efforts can help the intervention succeed.
This study was intended to investigate a secondary analysis of the first 12 months of clinical trials on weight loss barriers. Dr. Gray and her colleagues submitted this study to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on October 18, 2021. Participants participated in the study from March 2018 to March 2019. 121 patients randomly participated in the study. , 62 people participated and completed. Eligible patients were females 18 years and older with previous gestational diabetes, a BMI of 25 and above, and no other types of diabetes. Each participant was randomized in a 1: 1 way to either the IER group or the CER group. Randomization was done using an online random number generator. The IER diet consisted of 40% protein, 35% carbohydrates, and 25% fat in two non-consecutive weeks. The CER diet consisted of 30% protein, 45% carbohydrates and 25% fat.
Dietary quality was examined at baseline and after 12 months. Participants were assessed for weight loss barriers using a five-level Likert scale, from strongly agreeing to strongly disagreeing. Higher scores indicate better compliance with dietary guidelines, lower scores indicate poorer dietary quality. Statistical analysis was measured using SPSS statistical software. Significant p-values are less than 0.05. The tests used for the analysis included a QQ plot, a histogram, and a Shapiro-Wilk test.
According to Dr. Gray, the most common barriers identified are “difficulty in continuing a diet, difficulty in dealing with hunger while on a diet, and family responsibility prioritizing weight loss.” did. However, there was no significant difference between the group and the barriers to weight loss. In addition, there was no significant difference between the group and baseline values between healthy eating scores and weight loss results. Finally, there was no significant correlation between groups regarding diabetes risk and healthy eating scores.
In conclusion, the role and impact of barriers to weight loss in reducing type 2 diabetes in previous gestational diabetic patients, and their role, have not been thoroughly investigated. As Dr. Gray stated, no difference was observed in the barriers to weight loss and successful weight loss between intermittent and continuous diets. These findings address potential gaps in potential health effects on maternal health during and after pregnancy. The study was unique in that it took it one step further to determine how women could feel to achieve the goals often set by healthcare professionals. The limitations of this study include high withdrawal rates. This limits the generalizability available from the results. Another limitation of the study was that the questionnaire contained only 10 statements about barriers to weight loss. Thirty-two women chose to add a barrier to weight loss to the questionnaire. This means that other barriers were not included in the analysis of all participants. Perhaps a more comprehensive questionnaire can be used for future research to eliminate this weakness. Nonetheless, the studies obtained from this study are consistent with previous gestational diabetes studies that suggest that interventions to prevent diabetes should be performed.
Pearl practice:
- Gestational diabetes causes women to be nearly 10 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women who have no history of gestational diabetes.
- The most common barriers identified were “difficulty in continuing a diet, difficulty in dealing with hunger while on a diet, and family responsibility prioritizing weight loss.”
- No difference was observed in the barriers between weight loss and success between an intermittent diet and a continuous diet.
Gray, Christie L., etc. “Weight loss barriers and dietary quality of intermittent and continuous dieters in women with a history of gestational diabetes.” International Journal of Environmental Studies and Public Health,
Vounzoulaki, Elpida, etc. “Progression to Type 2 Diabetes in Females with a History of Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” BMJ.
Wellton, Stephanie, etc. “Intermittent fasting and weight loss: a systematic review.” Canadian family doctor
Kmeone Kingdom, MPH, PharmD Candidate, South College Pharmacy
