The WORD (Wholeness, Oneness, Righteousness, Deliverance) is a faith-based weight loss study in rural, African American adults of faith. The study will see whether a weight loss + maintenance intervention will cause participants to maintain their weight better than a weight loss only intervention.

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