Healthy lifestyle changes can improve quality of life: the Healthy Lifestyle Community Program (cohort 2; HLCP-2)

Aim Since unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and diseases themselves can independently influence quality of life, lifestyle intervention programs addressing all of these may yield benefits for quality of life. This study aimed to examine the impact of the Healthy Lifestyle Community Program (HLCP-2) on quality of life in adults. Subject and methods Data stem from a 24-month, non-randomized controlled lifestyle program which aimed to improve markers of NCD risk. Overall, 187 participants were assigned to either the intervention group (IG; n = 112) receiving a 10-week intensive lifestyle intervention on plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management, and community support, followed by a 22-month alumni phase, or a control group (CG; n = 75), without intervention. Quality of life was assessed by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire at six measurement time points. Problems in five health dimensions (“mobility”, “self-care”, “usual activities”, “pain/discomfort,” and “anxiety/depression”), a visual analogue scale on self-rated health (EQ VAS), and the German EQ-5D index were addressed. Results At baseline, 59.8% of the IG and 59.4% of the CG reported problems in ≥ 1 health dimension, with improvement in the IG at all time points. Compared to baseline, the EQ VAS increased significantly in the IG compared to CG at all time points. The mean EQ-5D index tended to improve in the IG, but changes did not differ significantly from changes in the CG. Conclusion A lifestyle community program addressing lifestyle behaviors provides benefits for participants’ self-rated health status, with the greatest effect after the intensive phase. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS (reference: DRKS00018775; 12.09.2019; retrospectively registered).