Participation in the study involves 3 visits to UIC and weekly online  where you will learn about diet and strategies for weight loss for 6 months. There are four groups: Mediterranean Diet, Weight Loss, Mediterranean Diet plus Weight Loss and Usual Lifestyle.

BRIDGE CRC Study Groups Heading link

  • Group will focus on adopting a Mediterranean Diet, a largely plant-based diet, focused on eating many vegetables and fruits, beans, nuts, whole grains, lean meats and fish, and olive oil as a primary source of fat
  • Attend a one-hour, in-person individual session during the two weeks prior to the start of group sessions
  •  24 group sessions taught by nutrition professional
  • Maintain current level of physical activity
  • Group will focus on adopting a Mediterranean Diet, a largely plant-based diet, focused on eating many vegetables and fruits, beans, nuts, whole grains, lean meats and fish, and olive oil as a primary source of fat
  • Attend a one-hour, in-person individual session during the two weeks prior to the start of group sessions
  • Meet for 24 group sessions
  • Group will focus on lifestyle changes that will encourage eating fewer calories and exercising regularly to lose weight
  • Attend a one-hour, in-person individual session during the two weeks prior to the start of group sessions
  •  24 group sessions
  • Participate in physical activity (cardio, strength, and flexibility)
  • Meet individually with a nutrition professional for 1-hour at the start of the intervention
  • Focus on maintaining current eating and activity patterns
  • Receive weekly health newsletters, but no dietary or physical activity recommendations
  • Will receive all the materials of the Med Diet + Weight Loss group following completion of the study.
image of exercise class

Participants will be randomly placed into 1 of the 4 groups. There will be about 20 people in each group.