Objective: A quasi-experimental study, pretest-posttest design, was applied to assess the effects of the lifestyle modification programs [LMPs] on health behaviors, capillary plasma glucose [CPG], and nutritional status in pre-diabetes.

Materials and Methods: Eighty-one subjects with pre-diabetes meeting inclusion criteria during community survey by Diabetes Ambassador Youth Student were included in this study. The multi-sites study was conducted and allocated different LMPs specially exercise assignment to three communities, 28 subjects from Mahasawat Sub-district, 30 subjects from Khlongyong Sub-district, and 23 subjects from Khanonnae Sub-district. The demographic information, health behaviors factors, CPG, body mass index [BMI], and waist circumference were recorded, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test and ANOVA.

Results: After the LMPs, participants from Mahasawat had statistically significant higher scores for food consumption and exercise behavior than before the program (p-value <0.05, and <0.01, respectively). Participants from Khlongyong Sub-district had statistically lower average CPG (p-value <0.05) and BMI (p-value <0.01) than before the program. Participants from Khanonnae Sub-district had statistically higher scores for food consumption (p-value <0.05) and exercise behavior (p-value <0.01), and lower BMI (p-value <0.05). When compared with before the program. The mean score of health behaviors, exercise aspect, stress management, and CPG were statistically significant different (F = 11.54, p-value <0.001; F = 11.34, p-value <0.001; F = 5.25, p-value <0.01; and F = 3.82, p-value <0.05, respectively). Thus, different activities in the LMPs had differently effects on health behaviors, CPG, and BMI.

Conclusion: The LMPs demonstrated improving of health behaviors, CPG, and BMI. It should be recommended to integrate with conventional method and education when pre-diabetes condition is recognized. It is a promising adjunct method to obviate prediabetes as well as diabetes and its complications in future.

Keywords: Lifestyle modification programs, Pre-diabetes, Health behaviors, Diabetes, Food consumption, Exercise behavior