The study enrolled 100 subjects (47 with type 2 diabetes,
53 with obesity); in 11 subjects with obesity, prediabetes
was also present. Fifty-two were males, 48 females, mean
age 59 [SD 9 (range, 41–70)]. Their complete demographic
and clinical data are reported in Table 1. Most
cases were enrolled in the Gavardo Unit, with only 11
patients recruited in Bologna. All subjects were followed
in a continuous care model by the recruiting units, and
had received counseling for healthy diet and habitual
physical activity, but had not engaged in specific activity
programs during the previous year. During the study,
their contact with physicians was similar; both groups
attended the specialist Units for ambulatory visits every
3 months, according to pre-specified protocols.
The reasons for program selection were largely
dependent on personal interests, on preferences for
group or individual programs, or finally on familiar or
job constraints, making it difficult to adhere to a prespecified
time schedule. These differences were discussed
during motivational interviewing [17], to stimulate adherence
to the selected program. No patient was allowed to
move from one program to the other after final assignment