Background and aim: Achieving a healthy weight in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or coronary heart disease is vital, yet few weight loss options address this population’s specific needs. We tested a weight reduction supplement for diabetes education (DE) and cardiac rehabilitation (CR), the Healthy Eating and Exercise Lifestyle Program (HEELP), on weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and exercise outcomes at 4 months.
Methods: Patients (n=147) with BMI 27-39 kg/m2 were recruited following DE and CR and randomized to HEELP (16-weeks of group-based supervised exercise, diet and behaviour change sessions) (n=83) or usual care (n=64).
Results: Participants were aged 63.71 years (SD 8.16), 58% were male and diagnosed with diabetes (51%) and/or coronary heart disease (75%). Groups were equivalent at baseline. At outcome HEELP participants had lost significantly more weight, BMI and waist circumference and exercised more days/week for a longer duration/week than usual care (Table 1). Clinically significant weight loss (≥ 5%) occurred more often in HEELP (20%) than usual care (3%, p .003).
Table 1 Change from baseline at four months

Conclusion: HEELP is an effective weight loss supplement for overweight and obese people attending DE and CR.