Weight loss goal.
The weight loss goal for all DPP participants was to lose 7% of initial body weight and to maintain this weight loss throughout the trial. The decision to use 7% of initial body weight as the goal was based on epidemiological data and results of previous weight loss trials. The risk of developing diabetes appears to increase with increased levels of BMI (9,10); thus, any decrease in BMI might be anticipated to decrease risk of diabetes. Moore et al. (11) reported that weight losses of 3.7–6.8 kg in overweight individuals aged 30–50 years decreased risk of diabetes by 33% compared with those who remained weight-stable over two consecutive 8-year periods.