Well-Being Therapy and Lifestyle Intervention in Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates the preliminary efficacy of a 4-month well-being therapy (WBT) and lifestyle intervention among adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity. Methods: Fifty-eight patients were recruited from two outpatient clinics and randomized to receive the WBT-lifestyle intervention or the lifestyle intervention alone. Data were collected at baseline (T0), immediate postintervention (T1), 6-month follow-up (T2), and 12-month follow-up (T3). Primary efficacy outcomes included changes in weight, psychological distress, and well-being, whereas secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in lifestyle and physiological parameters. Results: Compared with the lifestyle-alone intervention, the WBT-lifestyle intervention showed greater improvements in depression ( p = .009, d = −0.6), hostility ( p = .018, d = −0.6), and personal growth ( p = .026, d = 0.5) at T1, in self-reported physical activity at T2 ( p = .013, d = 0.7) and T3 ( p = .040, d = 0.5), and in triglycerides ( p = .019, d = −1.12) at T3. There were no differences between treatment groups in weight and other physiological parameters. Conclusions: These findings suggest that WBT may be a valuable addition to lifestyle interventions for improving short-term psychological outcomes and promoting long-term healthy changes in physical activity, with a potential impact on physiological outcomes.