these subjects can be useful for clinicians treating overweight or obese patients. The criterion for joining the National Weight Control Registry is maintenance of at least a 30 lb (6.6 kg) weight loss for at least one year, which I think most people would agree represents some measure of success. Our purposes in establishing the National Weight Control Registry were 1) to identify a large group of people who successfully maintained weight loss; and 2) to quantitatively describe strategies used by these people to achieve and maintain weight loss. The 4000 participants in the National Weight Control Registry have a number of characteristics in common that can be effectively used by those helping others to lose weight. Because our study was not a randomized, controlled study, we cannot be certain that the characteristics shared by registry participants contributed to the success of weight loss; however, we believe that the strategies used by these subjects to maintain their weight loss are sensible and could be used by others to help themselves achieve and maintain weight loss more successfully. Weight Loss Study Results Most subjects in the National Weight Control Registry are white women; men comprise only 20% of participants, and few minorities are represented. Most subjects are aged 44 to 49 years. Most participants gained weight early in life. Forty-six percent were overweight by age 11 years, a quarter became overweight between ages 12 to 18 years, and 28% became overweight as adults. Forty-six percent of participants had one parent who