Obesity Group Visits. A Novel Way to Approach the Obesity Epidemic in an Inner-City Setting

After being informed about the study and potential risks, all study participants giving written informed consent will be screened to determine eligibility for study entry. At week 0, study participants who meet the eligibility requirements will be randomized in a blind manner (participant only) in a 3:1 block ratio. The study will randomize 750 subjects to the composite group visit and 250 subjects to the dietitian-led group into a 12-months duration study. For Aim 2: A subset of 200 participants who identify as female and over 50 years old and males over 40 years old randomized to either the composite group arm or the dietitian-led arm will have the option to take part in a sub-study that involves getting a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan done at the Lundquist Institute. The first 125 subjects in the composite group arm and the first 75 subjects in the dietitian-led arm that express interest and want to undergo CAC scanning and perivascular fat measurements at baseline and at 12-months of intervention will need to sign a separate consent for these procedures. CAC scan readers will be blind to the assigned group. A group of 100 subjects not participating in the aim 1 intervention will be able to join the study under the control group. These participants will not be randomly assigned.