Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies (Pounds Lost)
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness for weight loss and weight maintenance of four diets differing in macronutrient composition: moderate in fat (40 percent energy) with two different protein levels (15 percent and 25 percent), and low in fat (20 percent energy), also with 15 percent and 25 percent protein levels. The study is only accepting participants in the Boston, Massachusetts or Baton Rouge, Louisiana area. For further enrollment information in Boston or Baton Rouge, see Eligibility Criteria or Design Narrative.


Options:
A: 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
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: 18-80 years old.
* Body mass index between 27.5 - 40.
* Steady weight in last 3 months (±3 kg).
* Informed consent provided.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of uncontrolled endocrinological pathology (including hypothyroidism).
* Type 2 diabetes mellitus with bad metabolic control (HbA1c \> 8%).
* Lipid-lowering drugs in the last 3 months.
* Intake of functional foods with plant sterols in the past 6 weeks.
* Vitamin supplements intake.
* Hormone replacement therapy.
* Consumption of Orlistat in the last 2 months
* High intake of alcohol (\> 30 gr./day).
* Any serious disease which involves less than 1 year life expectancy or, in investigators judgment, limit the follow-up of an homogeneous diet throughout the study.
* Pregnancy or intention of pregnancy during the study.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Self-identify as African American
* Be between the ages of 18-65 years
* Body Mass Index between 25- 49.9 kg/m2
* Live in the Columbia, SC/Midlands area
* Be able to attend all monitoring and weekly class visits
* Be willing to be randomized to either diet

Exclusion Criteria:

* Currently following a vegan diet
* Diagnosed with diabetes that is controlled by medication
* Currently pregnant or breastfeeding (or plan to become pregnant in the next 24 months)
* Under the age of 18 years old
* Over the age of 65 years old
* Currently participating in a weight loss program
* Has lost more than 10 pounds in the past 6 months
* Diagnosed with stroke or heart attack
D: A) Inclusion Criteria:

Eligible participants will be:

1. men, over 50
2. postmenopausal women, over 60 or
3. postmenopausal women under 60 with a family history of hypercholesterolemia and 1 CVD risk factor.

Participants will have the following characteristics:

* BMI 25-40 kg/m2 with body weight that has remained constant (within ±3%) over the last 3 months preceding the onset of the study
* Plus at least 1 of the following 3 criteria:

  1. have type 2 diabetes with one of the following:

     * raised LDL-C(in accordance with the 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines)
     * raised BP (\> 130/80mmHg), or
     * active smoking;
  2. be non-diabetic subjects post MI or post percutaneous coronary intervention (angioplasty) on statin therapy; and
  3. have a modified Framingham risk score \>20% (CCS 2012) and are unable (intolerant) or unwilling to take statin drugs.

B) Exclusion Criteria:

Individuals with the following conditions will be excluded:

* cardiovascular disease that precludes exercise e.g.

  * recent stroke or
  * myocardial infarction, or
* cardiac condition that compromises normal function

  * mitral valve disease,
  * heart failure--grades 2-4 (New York Heart Association classification),
  * severe angina or
  * other conditions preventing exercise,
* secondary causes of hypercholesterolemia

  * hypothyroidism, (unless treated and on a stable dose of L-thyroxine)
  * renal or liver disease
* uncontrolled blood pressure
* major disability
* disorder requiring continuous medical attention and treatment:

  * chronic heart failure,
  * liver disease,
  * renal failure or
  * cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer--basal cell, squamous cell),
* chronic infections (bacterial or viral)
* chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g. lupus, ulcerative colitis)
* other autoimmune diseases
* major surgery \<6 months prior to randomization
* alcohol consumption \>2 drinks/d.

Answer: A