According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 64 percent of Americans are overweight and 23 percent are obese. Many health experts contend that excess weight can lead to significant health problems. The National Institutes of Health reports, “If you are overweight, you are more likely to develop health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, gout (joint pain caused by excess uric acid), and gallbladder disease.”

In spite of these risks, many Americans find it extremely difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Many well-known diet programs, such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, the Zone Diet, the Atkins Diet, and Slimfast, help people shed pounds. However, 95 percent of dieters who lose weight regain the lost pounds, plus more, within five years. Many of these dieters fall into a pattern of “yo-yo dieting”&mdash...