Behavioral Plant-Based Dietary Intervention in Latinos

The Aims of this study are 1) to develop a traditional plant-based diet that is palatable and acceptable to the Latino population and which contains the appropriate calorie and macronutrient composition needed to lose weight and improve metabolic function and; 2) to develop a culturally sensitive \[based on previous literature and stakeholder input\] lifestyle intervention program, that will be delivered by community health workers \[CHWs\], that focuses on consuming a traditional plant-based diet and overcoming the barriers to incorporating this dietary therapy as part of the family lifestyle but with a focus on the adult participant with obesity. Ultimately, in Aim 3 the investigators will conduct a 16-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 40 Latino adults with obesity \[20 control, 20 treatment\] to evaluate the intervention's: i) clinical efficacy; ii) fidelity of the implementation by CHWs; and iii) acceptance by CHWs and study participants.