Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Considering Patient Diet Preference to Optimize Weight Loss
Brief Summary: Obesity is increasingly common and can lead to decreased quality of life, increased medical and psychiatric illness, high health care costs, and early mortality. The problem of obesity is as great in veterans as it is in the general public. Adherence to dietary therapy for obesity is often inadequate, possibly because patients' food preferences are not considered during dietary counseling. Allowing patients to choose a diet based on their food preferences may increase their motivation to adhere to diet counseling. This, in turn, could enhance their weight loss success and, ultimately, reduce the many health complications and costs of obesity. The proposed study will examine whether assessing a person's food preferences, and then allowing the person to choose from two commonly prescribed diets, results in greater weight loss success.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Men or women age 30-65,
* BMI in the range 28-35 kg/m2 for women and 28-40kg/m2 for men.
* At least one of the following components of the metabolic syndrome; fasting triglycerides \> 1,7, fasting glucose 6,0-6,9, HDL-cholesterol \<1,03 (males) or \<1,29 (females), Blood pressure \>130/85 (with or without treatment), diet-treated diabetes mellitus or drug treated hypertension.
* Stable weight range of 4 kg or less the last 12 weeks,
* No major change in physical activity the last 12 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any symptomatic cardiovascular disease
* Diabetes requiring drug treatment
* Currently on special diet
* Hepatic/renal dysfunction
* Hypothyroidism (unstable)
* GI disorder impairing compliance with diet recommendation,
* History of unstable psychiatric or medical disorder,
* Need of lipid lowering drug,
* Alcohol or drug abuse,
* Participation in drug trial the last 30 days,
* Use of drugs for weight reduction last 12 weeks, pregnancy or planned pregnancy,
* Obesity of known endocrine origin, history of obesity surgery,
* Uncontrolled hypertension (\>160/100),
* Previous participation in \>3 weight reduction programs, or within last 12 months,
* Not willing to be randomized,
* Individual judged to be unable to follow instructions and procedures of the study
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* BMI\>27
* age\>40
* History of CHD or diabetes in any age or BMI level

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant or lactating women.
* Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
* Serum creatinine \> 3 mg/dl.
* Liver dysfunction ( ³ 2 fold level of ALT and AST enzymes).
* Participation in another trial in which active intervention is being received.
* Any intestinal problem that would prevent the patient from eating one of the test diets (for example, gastric stapling that might prevent consumption of vegetables).
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Body mass index 30 or greater
* Stable health
* Desire to lose weight
* Agrees to attend regular visits
* Access to telephone and reliable transportation
* Has a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) provider

Exclusion Criteria:

* Certain chronic or unstable disease (kidney or liver disease, type 1 diabetes, hemoglobin A1c 12% or more, insulin use, unstable heart disease, transplant recipient, blood pressure 160/100 or greater, fasting blood triglycerides 600 or greater, LDL cholesterol 190 or greater)
* Pregnancy, breastfeeding, lack of birth control
* Active dementia, psychiatric illness, or substance abuse (past year)
* Weight loss therapy in previous month
* Pacemaker or defibrillator
* Enrolled in another study that might affect measurements
* Previously in study of low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet for weight loss
* Unable to complete all study measures
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Only accepting participants in the Boston, Massachusetts or Baton Rouge, Louisiana area
* Between the ages of 30 - 70
* Willing to modify eating pattern according to instructions
* Overweight or obese and in good health with a BMI of 25-40
* Committed to a long-term weight loss and maintenance program
* Willing to attend multiple weight loss group sessions
* Willing to increase activity level

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
* Unwilling to participate in the schedule of group sessions and individual visits
* Unstable or recent onset of heart disease or any other serious illness
* Cannot change diet due to medical or other reasons
* Planning to leave the area prior to the anticipated end of participation
* Current participation in another clinical trial with an intervention that affects weight change
* Have diabetes that is treated with insulin or hypoglycemic oral medicines
* Diagnosis of psychiatric or emotional problems within 6 months of study
* Currently have an eating disorder
* Have hypothyroidism
* Have an unstable weight

Answer: C