A National Effort to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Participant-Level Evaluation of CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess participant-level results from the first 4 years of implementation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), a national effort to prevent type 2 diabetes in those at risk through structured lifestyle change programs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Descriptive analysis was performed on data from 14,747 adults enrolled in year-long type 2 diabetes prevention programs during the period February 2012 through January 2016. Data on attendance, weight, and physical activity minutes were summarized and predictors of weight loss were examined using a mixed linear model. All analyses were performed using SAS 9.3. RESULTS: Participants attended a median of 14 sessions over an average of 172 days in the program (median 134 days). Overall, 35.5% achieved the 5% weight loss goal (average weight loss 4.2%, median 3.1%). Participants reported a weekly average of 152 min of physical activity (median 128 min), with 41.8% meeting the physical activity goal of 150 min per week. For every additional session attended and every 30 min of activity reported, participants lost 0.3% of body weight (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: During the first 4 years, the National DPP has achieved widespread implementation of the lifestyle change program to prevent type 2 diabetes, with promising early results. Greater duration and intensity of session attendance resulted in a higher percent of body weight loss overall and for subgroups. Focusing on retention may reduce disparities and improve overall program results. Further program expansion and investigation is needed to continue lowering the burden of type 2 diabetes nationally.
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Community-based programs report at least 5% weight loss in 13.5% to 35.5% of participants at 12 months.
“While the original DPP reported at least 5% weight loss in 44% of participants at 12 months, community-based programs report this degree of weight loss in 13.5% to 35.5% of participants.44,45”
From An AI-Powered Lifestyle Intervention vs Human Coaching in the Diabetes Prevention Program: A Randomized Clinical Trial (2025) · cites this paper as [44]
The Results (Table 2) report that 35.5% of participants achieved at least 5% weight loss, supporting the upper end of the range. The Methods say weight loss was calculated from the first to last recorded weights, up to 12 months after baseline—not specifically at 12 months. The supplied passages do not establish the 13.5% lower end. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredData from the National DPP database show an average engagement in 14 sessions across in-person programs.
“Data from the National DPP database also show an average engagement in 14 sessions across in-person programs, compared with 17 in this study.20”
From Effects of a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program: An RCT (2022) · cites this paper as [20]
The Results report that participants attended a median of 14 sessions. The Population section says virtual programs had no one-year data in the study period, so the analyzed programs were in person. The claim calls 14 an average, but the paper identifies it as a median, not a mean. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredRetention in this therapy was high, exceeding persistence among available lifestyle programs and many pharmaceutical therapies.
“Retention in this therapy was high, exceeding persistence among available lifestyle programs [24,25] and many pharmaceutical therapies [26].”
Population reach increased from about 35,000 eligible participants as of 2016 to over 324,000 by early 2019.
“In turn, population reach has been fast increasing from about 35,000 eligible participants served as of 20163 to over 324,000 by early 2019.10”
From <p>Current Perspectives on the Impact of the National Diabetes Prevention Program: Building on Successes and Overcoming Challenges</p> (2020) · cites this paper as [3]
Each session attended is associated with 0.3% more weight loss.
“Improving retention appears key overall to ensuring beneficial weight loss outcomes (e.g., each session attended is associated with 0.3% more weight loss).3”
From <p>Current Perspectives on the Impact of the National Diabetes Prevention Program: Building on Successes and Overcoming Challenges</p> (2020) · cites this paper as [3]
Reports show a promising 4.2% mean weight loss for in-person NDPP classes and 4.3% weight loss for virtual programs.
“Reports show a promising 4.2% mean weight loss for in-person NDPP classes3 and 4.3% weight loss for virtual programs.31”
From <p>Current Perspectives on the Impact of the National Diabetes Prevention Program: Building on Successes and Overcoming Challenges</p> (2020) · cites this paper as [3]
The National DPP database shows an average of 4.2% weight loss.
“the National DPP database shows an average of 4.2% weight loss.20”
From Effects of a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program: An RCT (2022) · cites this paper as [20]
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- Authors
- Ely, E. K., Gruss, S. M., Luman, E. T., Gregg, E. W., Ali, M. K., Nhim, K., Rolka, D. B., & Albright, A. L.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ely, Elizabeth K.
- Venue
- Diabetes Care
- Publisher
- American Diabetes Association
- Published
- 2017-05-12
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1331-1341
- ISSN
- 0149-5992 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-5548
- PMC
- PMC5606310
- OpenAlex
- W2613516574
- Cited by
- 386
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 12
- FWCI
- 27.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Diabetes Care (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK111024)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- type 2 diabetes prevention, National Diabetes Prevention Program, lifestyle intervention, weight loss, physical activity, session attendance, participant retention, prediabetes, program implementation, health disparities
- MeSH terms
- Diet, Healthy, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Body Weight, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S., Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, United States, Cohort Studies, Weight Loss, Health Behavior, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Young Adult
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