According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one-third of American adults are obese or overweight. And that number is steadily growing, as is the rate of childhood obesity. Obesity can lead to many other health complications including an increase in the risk of heart disease and diabetes. The link between obesity and type 2 diabetes is especially strong.
As a result of these factors, Dr. Osama Hamdy, the medical director of the Obesity Clinical Program at Joslin Diabetes Center, advocates a modified diet and exercise with the primary objective of treating and preventing diabetes. This program is called Why WAIT, or Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment, and represents an interdisciplinary effort and weight loss through behavior modification.
Dr. Osama Hamdy
Dr. Osama Hamdy is considered an expert in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes and strongly believes that weight loss is the best approach. He also promotes a controlled diet and exercise program for individuals without diabetes as a preventative measure. Along with his colleagues, Dr. Hamdy began the Why WAIT Program. This diet plan is designed to be implemented under the direction of doctors to provide support and guidance throughout the process.
Why WAIT Program Guidelines and Enrollment
The diet promoted by the Why WAIT program features a protein intake leaning towards the high end of the spectrum, requiring that protein equal 20 to 30 percent of your daily caloric intake. Carbohydrates are limited to 40 percent and fat intake is never to exceed 30 percent. The sources of these nutrients are also restricted to foods that offer a high fiber content with a limited effect on blood glucose levels.
The Why WAIT protocol also calls for regular exercise and other therapies based on the patient’s individual needs. Since the weight loss program relies heavily on a multidisciplinary professional support system, it is not a diet that can be followed on your own or learned from a book. The Why WAIT Program is essentially a medical protocol rather than a standard diet. This all-inclusive nature of the diet makes it considerably less accessible and more expensive than some alternatives.
Currently, the 12-week Why Wait Program is only conducted at the Boston location of the Joslin Diabetes Center. The program includes medication adjustments, diet management, weekly education and an individualized exercise plan.
Proven Effects of the Hamdy Diet
The Hamdy diet is not a crash diet and is designed for slow, healthy weight loss. The focus of the program is on maintained behavior and lifestyle modification rather than rapid weight loss. Following the program’s diet and exercise plan has been shown to maintain healthy blood pressure and control blood sugar in a series of studies. Patients have also reduced their dependence on medication. Participants in the Hamdy diet experienced a reduction in their total cardiovascular risk factors and lost an average of 24 pounds during the 12-week period. The patients also maintained an average weight loss of 7.6 percent for a year and a half following the study.
The Why WAIT Program, although difficult to participate in now, represents highly positive option in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes.