Stepping Into Lifestyle Changes

The purpose of this study is to promote healthy weight loss among African American women, age 30 or older, who are pre-diabetic and/or have high blood pressure and who live, work, or worship in select rural communities throughout Alabama and Mississippi. The goal of the study is to help reduce the burden of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure for these women and to collect information on the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance, and cost effectiveness of our two evidence-base weight loss programs.

Inclusion Criteria:self-identifies as Black and/or African American≥ 30 years olda measured BMI >25 kg/m2 and at least one other cardiometabolic risk factor (physician diagnosis of pre-diabetes and/or hypertension within past 2 years)lives, works, or worships in one of the 12 intervention communities and expresses no intentions to move outside of that community in the 18 months following enrollmenta willingness to participate in the study for the 18-months duration.Exclusion Criteria:being or planning to become pregnant during the 18-month study durationa baseline blood pressure and/or glucose that is outside of the normal range and a medical provider does not provide clearance to participatemedical contraindications