Weight Loss and Maintenance for Rural, African American Communities of Faith (The WORD)

Inclusion Criteria:

- African American

- Aged 18 and older

- Have a BMI ) > 25 kg/m²

- Associated with a participating church through membership or participation in a church
activity

- Free of medical problems that might contraindicated participation in a behavioral
weight reduction program containing an exercise component

- Individuals taking sulfonylureas who have a letter from their doctor supporting their
participation in the study will be considered eligible

Exclusion Criteria

- Not had a heart attack or stroke in the past 6 months

- Not currently on medication that might affect weight loss or require medical
monitoring (i.e. insulin)

- Not pregnant, not pregnant in the previous six months, or lactating

- Not enrolled in another weight reduction program

- Agree to complete the program assigned to them

- Never had weight loss surgery

- Not have lost more than 10% body weight in the previous 6 months

- Not have a clinically significant medical condition likely to impact weight or any
condition that makes it unlikely the participant would be available to follow the
protocol for 18 months