A prospective 3-month study was conducted among 36 obese type 2 diabetic patients in Ibadan, Nigeria to determine the effects of demonstrating accurate measurement of food quantity and training in moderate physical exercise on the body weight, body mass index (BMI), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Patients were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control) of 18 patients each. The experimental group had demonstrations on accurate food quantity measurement and training in physical exercise, while the control group continued with the dietitian’s verbal instructions. An intervieweradministered questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients. A 24-hour dietary recall and food diary were used to assess the patient’s compliance with diet therapy. The frequency of performing the exercise was recorded in the diary by the patients. Compliance to diet therapy and exercise were scored good, fair, or poor. The mean age of the patients was 48±8 years. There was no significant difference in the age, sex, ethnicity, income, and adherence to dietitian’s appointments by the two groups (p>0.05). However, compliance with diet therapy and exercise was significantly better – while body weight, BMI, and FPG levels were significantly reduced – in the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). Though the study was short-term (3 months), it indicated that a combined, structured approach to diet and exercise can have beneficial effects in obese type 2 diabetic patients

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