Lifestyle Changes Through Exercise and Nutrition

The intervention will involve utilizing trained community health coaches to deliver the weight loss intervention. There will be 10 group based sessions conducted at each church over 6 months. Session frequency will be 4 weekly sessions (4) for the first month, bimonthly sessions for 2 months (4) and monthly sessions for 2 months (2). The study is based upon weight loss strategies that have been utilized in the Diabetes Prevention Program. The group sessions will be augmented by utilizing text messages. The text messages will be delivered weekly and three types of messages will be delivered: 1) lesson content, 2) motivational, 3) behavioral prompts.