Recent research has clearly shown that lifestyle intervention can reduce the risk of diabetes in those with impaired glucose tolerance; weight reduction appears to be the primary determinant of this effect. Weight loss can also improve glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in those with diabetes; however, the long-term impact of weight loss on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is still under investigation. An important finding is that modest weight losses of just 5% to 10% of initial body weight appear sufficient to produce these benefits for diabetes prevention and cardiovascular risk reduction.