Brain Function Predictors And Outcome Of Weight Loss And Weight Loss Maintenance

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI equal to or greater than 30 kg/m2 or 18 to 24.9
• declaration they do not have plans to move out of the Greater Kansas City area for at least 1 year
• willingness to be randomized
• Individuals undergoing weight loss will have to present written approval from a licensed physician that they are healthy enough to participate in a program of moderate diet restriction and moderate physical activity.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in a research project involving weight loss or PA in the previous 6 months, as these proximal experiences may impact the results of this study.
• Subjects who smoke
• Subjects who use special diets (i.e. vegetarian, Adkins, etc.), use medications that affect metabolism (i.e. thyroid, beta blockers), use medications that affect appetite (i.e. Meridia) or cannot exercise (i.e. walk).
• Exhibit signs of eating disorders, restraint, depression
• Participant has any metabolic disease that would affect energy balance (e.g. diabetes mellitus or hypothyroidism).
• Individuals who report being pregnant during the previous 6 months, are lactating, or planned pregnancy within 12 months
• Individuals who are not weight stable (± 4.5kg) within the previous 3 months or have more than 500 kcal/wk of planned physical activity
• Serious medical risk such as type 1 diabetes, cancer, recent cardiac event (i.e. heart attack, angioplasty, etc.)