The effects on weight reduction of three different 1,200-kcal diets followed for a 10-week period were examined in adult, sedentary, overweight women. Diet patterns contained 25%, 45%, or 75% carbohydrate, with variations in fat and protein. Parameters evaluated and compared for each diet were body composition, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, percent body fat, and nutrient intake. Each diet group contained at least 11 women. Behavioral approaches were used to ensure that subjects complied with the caloric intake and the dietary pattern. No significant differences were found in the parameters except for BUN, which was significantly greater in the 25% carbohydrate group. Each 1,200-kcal diet contributed to weight loss. Selection of a weight reduction diet can be designed around preferred food patterns and nutrition needs of individuals rather than a proportion of the energy provided by carbohydrate in healthy adult women. Practitioners may use this research to demonstrate to clients that body weight can be lost while following a variety of nutritious diets.