Participants were encouraged to achieve the 7% weight loss in the first 6 months of the DPP lifestyle intervention, since previous behavioral weight loss studies have suggested that most individuals achieve their maximum weight loss within the first 20–24 weeks of a lifestyle intervention (17). The recommended pace of weight loss was 1–2 lbs per week. Participants who wished to lose >7% of their baseline weight were encouraged to do so, as long as they continued to have a BMI of >21 kg/m2. To achieve the 7% weight loss goal, participants were taught behavioral strategies to realize and maintain long-term changes in their fat and calorie intake (see details below). Physical activity was seen as important for long-term weight loss maintenance and also as a way to possibly prevent diabetes, independent of weight loss. Weight loss medications were not used as part of the trial.