Health risk factor modification predicts incidence of diabetes in an employee population: results of an 8-year longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To understand risk factor modification effect on Type 2 diabetes incidence in a workforce population.

Methods: Annual health risk assessment data (N = 3125) in years 1 through 4 were used to predict diabetes development in years 5 through 8.

Results: Employees who reduced their body mass index from 30 or more to less than 30 decreased their chances of developing diabetes (odds ratio = 0.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.05 to 0.93), while those who became obese increased their diabetes risk (odds ratio = 8.85, 95% confidence interval: 2.53 to 31.0).

Conclusions: Weight reduction observed over a long period can result in clinically important reductions in diabetes incidence. Workplace health promotion programs may prevent diabetes among workers by encouraging weight loss and adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.