The group undergoing the intervention will participate in 90-minute group visits occurring weekly for 4 weeks, then biweekly for a total of 26 weeks/15 visits. Each visit will focus on intensive lifestyle changes. Further, these patients will each have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a member of the research team at the end of each visit in order to discuss individual goals and progress. Pharmacotherapy therapy changes will be recommended to reduce or avoid use of medication which may contribute to weight gain and medications for weight loss will be prescribed as an individualized treatment strategy during one-on-one time with the pharmacist or physician if the patient can afford it and no contraindications exists.

The control group will have their measurements done at the beginning and end of the study. They will continue with usual medicare care during the study and will not receive any education from the investigators during the study. They will be offered the option of a delayed intervention after the completion of the study.

Shared medical appointments providing education and lifestyle change recommendations to promote weight loss in obese patients

Body weight will be measured at the initial and final visits using the Tanita DC-430 body composition analyzer for participants in both groups and documented in the medical record. Percent of body weight lost will be calculated for each participant and the percentage of participants who lose 5% of body weight will be included in the primary outcome.

Body weight will be measured at the initial and final visits using the Tanita DC-430 body composition analyzer for participants in both groups and documented in the medical record. Change in weight will be calculated for each participant and the mean will be reported.