Why weight-loss programs don't work for everyone
One Size Does Not Fit All: Complexity of Lifestyle Interventions in Primary Care T2D Prevention – Supporting Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some people can stick to diet and exercise to avoid diabetes, but many find it hard — especially men and people with less money. Setting goals that are too high can make people feel bad and quit. Doctors and researchers don’t always work well together to make these programs work in real clinics.
Surprising Findings
High self-efficacy at the start doesn’t guarantee success.
We’re told confidence is key—but this study says belief alone isn’t enough. What matters more is ongoing support and flexible goals.
Practical Takeaways
If you're designing a health program, offer flexible goals (e.g., 'move more' instead of 'lose 10 lbs') and prioritize accessibility (virtual options, childcare, sliding scale fees).
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some people can stick to diet and exercise to avoid diabetes, but many find it hard — especially men and people with less money. Setting goals that are too high can make people feel bad and quit. Doctors and researchers don’t always work well together to make these programs work in real clinics.
Surprising Findings
High self-efficacy at the start doesn’t guarantee success.
We’re told confidence is key—but this study says belief alone isn’t enough. What matters more is ongoing support and flexible goals.
Practical Takeaways
If you're designing a health program, offer flexible goals (e.g., 'move more' instead of 'lose 10 lbs') and prioritize accessibility (virtual options, childcare, sliding scale fees).
Publication
Journal
Weight Loss - A Multidisciplinary Perspective
Year
2024
Authors
Maija Huttunen-Lenz
Related Content
Claims (5)
People who feel confident they can handle setbacks and stick to healthy habits are more likely to keep off the weight in diabetes prevention programs—but even if someone starts out super confident, that doesn’t mean they’ll succeed, and it’s not the biggest reason why some people do or don’t lose weight.
Doctors and nurses in regular clinics aren’t getting enough help or training from diabetes researchers to use proven lifestyle tips—like better eating and exercise—to stop people from getting type 2 diabetes.
Making lasting changes to how you eat and move can help stop prediabetes from turning into full-blown diabetes—but in real life, most people struggle to stick with these changes, so they don’t work as well as they do in fancy research studies.
People with less money and men are less likely to join or finish programs meant to prevent type 2 diabetes—even though they’re more likely to get it—which makes health gaps between groups even worse.
Doctors and health programs try to help people avoid type 2 diabetes by changing their habits, but we don’t fully understand how exactly those habit-changing tricks—like setting goals or building confidence—actually work to make people stick to healthier choices.