AimThe present study investigated the effect of lifestyle modification on arterial stiffness in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).MethodsThere were 162 subjects with IGT were randomized to either a usual care control group (n＝78) or an intensive lifestyle intervention group (n＝84).Both two groups, their height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure were measured.The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by ultrasonography, the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured by automatic atherosclerosis assay instrument at the baseline and after intervention.ResultsThe intervention group showed a significant difference in triglycerides, oral glucose tolerance test 2-hour plasma glucose (OGTT2hPG) following the 24 months of intervention compared with baseline (p<0.01), without differences in changes of the values of carotid IMT and baPWV.At 24 months, significant improvements were noted in most anthropometric values in the intervention group than the control group (p<0.05 or p<0.01), and the values of carotid IMT were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05), without significant differences in baPWV between the two groups.ConclusionThe finding suggests the active intervention may have beneficial effects on arterial stiffness for the patients at-risk for diabetes through improving anthropometric and certain metabolic outcomes.