Obesity is a problem of significant public health concern both in this and other western countries. One reason is that it is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, most notably hypertension. For example, in the Framingham study it was found that relative body weight, weight change during observation, and skin fold thickness were related to existing blood pressure levels and to the subsequent rate of development of hypertension. Additionally, for previously normotensive individuals, the risk of developing hypertension was proportional to the degree of overweight. Obesity is also a major risk factor for type II diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, some overweight individuals are physically healthy but suffer from the psychosocial consequences of their condition so that losing weight would be desirable for them as well as for individuals more at risk for physical illness.