<qa>  What is TREND a pilot randomized trial comparing two alternative methods of initiatingTREND is a pilot randomized trial comparing two alternative methods of initiating a low-calorie weight loss diet. The study will compare the traditional diet initiation of abruptly dropping energy intake to 1000 kcalday for women and 1200 kcalday for men versus a 6 week tapering of energy intake from a baseline level. These two approaches will be compared with respect to their impact on energy regulatory systems of the body, weight loss and other measures, up to a year after diet initiation. 