Family PALS (PArtners in Lifestyle Support)

Type 2 diabetes disproportionately burdens African Americans, and already excessive rates of diabetes are expected to increase even further as rates of obesity rise. While there is evidence that diabetes self-management training is effective in improving metabolic control, and modest weight loss can delay the onset of diabetes, the investigators have limited knowledge of the best approach to self-management training from a family perspective in high risk groups such as African Americans. Family remains a valued dimension of African American life and may be an important behavioral context for interventions to improve disease management and health outcomes. Nonetheless, there are no trials of family-based interventions to improve diabetes self-care and achieve weight loss that have involved adult families. Participants: A total of 80 pairs (index participant + family member) or 160 adults will participate in this trial where a 20-session behavioral weight loss intervention will be tested. Participants include overweight or obese African Americans with type 2 diabetes and a paired co-participant identified as an overweight or obese adult family member without type 2 diabetes. Family members may self-describe as non-African Americans. Procedures (methods): Study participants will be enrolled in a randomized controlled trial using a 2:1 random allocation to the special intervention (a 20-session family-based behavioral weight loss intervention) or a usual care group (controls). Following the trial, participants in the usual care group will receive a 6-session weight management intervention (over a 2-month period) based on the 20-session special intervention.