Behavioral Weight Intervention and Social Experiences Study

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a new intervention that addresses social aspects of obesity, combined with behavioral weight loss (BWL) treatment, in improving psychosocial well-being. The program is divided into two parts: a 12-week weight loss phase followed by a 14-week maintenance phase. The total duration of the study will be 26 weeks (approximately 6 months). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Half of participants will be assigned to a group that will receive standard BWL treatment. The other group will receive BWL treatment in addition to discussing social aspects of obesity, such as societal attitudes, unfair treatment due to weight, and negative thoughts and feelings related to weight. Each meeting will last approximately 90 minutes, and there will be 10-12 participants per group. Group meetings will be held weekly for the first 12 weeks, then every-other-week for the next month, and monthly for the next 2 months. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and assessment visits 3 times during the study.