OPTIFAST is a medically supervised weight loss and weight management program that involves a complete meal replacement followed by a gradual introduction of foods after dietary education. The resources offered through this program are through a physician, registered dietitian and behaviorist, including a psychologist.~UPMC Prescription for Wellness is an innovative physician/provider prescribed coaching and feedback program that improves patient engagement and outcomes in healthy behaviors; self-care of chronic disease and condition management; and shared decision-making. The resources available through this program are offered via a telephonic health coach, online or through a digital intervention based on the participant's convenience.~The objective of the study is to examine the extent to which diet/lifestyle change programs with a multidisciplinary team (consisting of a dietician, physician and behaviorist/health coach) that develop healthy behaviors before creating a calorie deficit for weight loss will result in greater weight loss and a longer duration of weight maintenance. It intends to compare the extent of weight loss and weight maintenance in participants who will undergo calorie restriction without prior behavioral interventions to participants that will undergo behavioral interventions prior to starting calorie restriction.~Behavioral interventions will first be provided by UPMC Prescription for Wellness prior to starting OPTIFAST. Calorie restriction will be during the OPTIFAST Program. The participants will be actively recruited by the study team at the Center for Diabetes and Metabolism (CDE) at the Falk Clinic in Oakland, Pittsburgh.
The objective of the study is to examine the extent to which diet/lifestyle change programs with a multidisciplinary team (consisting of a dietician, physician and behaviorist/health coach) that develop healthy behaviors before creating a calorie deficit for weight loss will result in greater weight loss and a longer duration of weight maintenance. It intends to compare the extent of weight loss and weight maintenance in participants who will undergo calorie restriction without prior behavioral interventions to participants that will undergo behavioral interventions prior to starting calorie restriction.