A randomised trial of a weight loss intervention for overweight and obese people diagnosed with coronary heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes.

Background: Weight reduction limits disease progression in obese people with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Purpose: To test a 16-week group-based weight reduction intervention combining exercise, diet and behaviour change strategies aimed to increase self-efficacy (Healthy Eating and Exercise Lifestyle Program-HEELP) on weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and exercise.

Methods: Participants with CHD and/or T2DM and BMI between 27 to 39 kg/m(2) were randomised to HEELP (n=83) or usual care (n=65).

Results: Participants were aged a mean 63.47 years (SD 8.9), male (58 %) and Caucasian (79 %). HEELP participants lost significantly more weight, BMI and waist circumference and exercised more days/week for a longer duration/week than usual care. Clinically significant weight loss (≥5 %) was more common in HEELP than usual care.

Conclusion: The HEELP resulted in weight loss and improved exercise behaviour in obese people with CHD and T2DM.