Puerto Rican Obesity Intervention for Men

Inclusion Criteria

• •1. Male of Puerto Rican descent over 35 years.
• •2. BMI ≥25 by anthropometrically measured weight and height.
• •3. Physically able to exercise (via the EASY tool \[106, 107\]; Appendix 2). If responses to the EASY indicate that medical clearance is needed, then able to receive medical clearance to participate in the study.
• •4. Has access to secure computer or tablet in a private location with reliable internet connection to support video streaming
• •5. Ability to understand and speak English. For those without a high-speed internet and private space to exercise, we will work with our community partners to identify a space with access to videoconferencing so they can attend the telehealth class.
• •Exclusion:
• •1. Does not understand/speak English.
• •2. Plans to move from the Illinois or Wisconsin area during the study.
• •3. Currently in a formal weight management program.
• •4. Current or planned use of weight control or loss medication prescribed by a doctor.
• •5. Currently exercising \>1 time/week.
• •6. Unable to attend study times.
• •7. Serious medical problems or medications that would make protocol compliance difficult or dangerous, e.g., unable to engage in moderate \& eventually vigorous exercise, uncontrolled diabetes (A1C \> 9) or hypertension (systolic \>160 or diastolic \>100), hypoglycemia, heart attack in the past six months, unstable angina, life-threatening arrhythmias, cancer that required treatment in the last 5 years (except non-melanoma skin cancers that have been cured). Patients who have been treated for cancer in the past 5 years may require different diet and PA recommendations than individuals without treatment for cancer in the past 5 years.
• •8. In the EASY interview, if participant answers yes to the question that indicates they fall or always use an assisted device while walking.
• •9. Current alcohol abuse (\>35 alcoholic drinks/week); score of yes to \> 2 questions on the CAGE alcohol scale (Appendix 1) \[108\].