The influence of dietary intake, mental health, and physical activity on blood glucose levels among adults in weight management program

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global and national health concern often linked with poor dietary intake, physical inactivity, and psychological stress. This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary intake, mental health status, and physical activity on fasting blood glucose levels in overweight and obese adults participating in the Fit for Future weight management program. A total of 80 participants were recruited and classified into four groups: Normal Control, Normal Intervention, Obese Control, and Obese Intervention. Data on dietary intake were collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), mental health status was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and physical activity levels were evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured both before and after the intervention. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data analysis. The findings showed that both intervention groups at post-intervention showed a significant improvement in dietary intake and physical activity levels. The Obese Intervention groups showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.05), while the Normal Intervention group showed a significant reduction in FBG levels (p = 0.02). No significant changes were observed in the control groups. These results suggest that integrative lifestyle interventions addressing diet, mental health, and physical activity can positively influence metabolic outcomes. The study highlights the importance of a holistic approach in managing metabolic health in a weight management program.