Outcomes of health care providers' recommendations for healthy lifestyle among U.S. adults with prediabetes.

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle modification (i.e., weight loss, active lifestyle, healthy diet) is a recommended strategy for the prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between receiving a health-care provider's recommendation and adherence to behavioral indicators of adaptation of a healthy lifestyle among adults with prediabetes.

METHODS

A secondary analysis was conducted using the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (N=2,853) that included self-reported efforts to improve diet, lose weight, and increase physical activity and objective measures of body mass index, blood tests for lipids, and actigraph data on physical activity.

RESULTS

When demographic variables, metabolic factors, and physical activity level were controlled, central obesity and elevated blood pressure were significantly associated with having prediabetes. Almost 40% of the respondents with prediabetes reported being told by their health-care provider during the previous year to control or lose weight, increase their physical activity, or decrease the fat and calories in their diet. Participants who were counseled to adopt a healthy lifestyle reported high adherence to weight control and diet modification. Selected objective measures supported that the health-care providers' recommendations contributed to improved lifestyle.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that self-reported health-care provider's recommendations for lifestyle modifications are associated with people actually engaging in healthier behavior. The results reinforce the importance of health-care provider's making recommendations to promote adherence to a healthier lifestyle.