Behavioral lifestyle interventions for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes and translation to Hispanic/Latino communities in the United States and Mexico.

Lifestyle behaviors in overweight and obese individuals are closely linked to the development, course, and outcomes of type 2 diabetes and multiple comorbid health conditions. Behavior change theory and many randomized controlled studies offer strong support for screening and identifying adults at increased cardiometabolic risk and for providing early intervention to mitigate risk factors to prevent or delay the onset of disease. The current article reviews key lifestyle intervention efficacy and dissemination trials conducted with individuals deemed to be at increased risk for diabetes and describes the rationale for training teams of professionals and community health workers (e.g., promotores [in Spanish]) to implement comprehensive programs, with fidelity, in a variety of medical care and community settings. This evidence-based road map may be used to facilitate the design and implementation of strategies for structured behavioral diabetes risk reduction programs in the public and private healthcare sectors and other relevant community-based platforms serving individuals of Hispanic/Latino origin in the United States and Mexico.