Dietary treatments for obesity

Approximately 97 million Americans are classified as overweight or obese. Obesity alone is associated with an increased risk of early mortality and is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) and its risk factors. The author reports that the biological, psychological, and sociological differences between men and women contribute to the varying success of dietary obesity treatments. She concludes that there is a demonstrated need for additional studies regarding the effects of gender on body weight, body composition, body fat distribution, and CHD risk factor responses to dietary weight loss interventions.