Long-term weight-loss and healthy-aging program for older adults with type 2 diabetes
Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Extended Follow-up (LA-E2)
Doctors are continuing to follow people with type 2 diabetes who got a lifestyle-based weight-loss program to see how it affects aging, health events, and day-to-day function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127722 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a group of adults with type 2 diabetes who have been followed for many years to learn how weight loss and lifestyle changes affect aging. Researchers will keep track of major health events, physical function, healthcare use, and quality of life while collecting information about behaviors and other factors tied to resilience. The project builds on the original Look AHEAD participants and uses clinic visits, questionnaires, and medical record review to measure outcomes. The aim is to find which lifestyle strategies help people with diabetes stay healthier and more independent as they age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with type 2 diabetes who are overweight or obese and who either participated in the original Look AHEAD trial or closely resemble that population.
Not a fit: People without type 2 diabetes, those unable to safely take part in lifestyle interventions, or those with advanced terminal illness are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify lasting lifestyle approaches that help people with type 2 diabetes live longer, stay more independent, and use less healthcare.
How similar studies have performed: The original Look AHEAD intervention produced sustained weight loss and improvements in fitness and risk factors but did not reduce major cardiovascular events, so this extension focuses on longer-term aging and function outcomes.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Espeland, Mark Andrew — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Espeland, Mark Andrew
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.