Participants are now being recruited for a yearlong study at the University of California, Davis, aimed at helping large women establish healthy nutritional and activity habits as well as improve their self-esteem and self-confidence. The new Healthy Living Project is a research program jointly sponsored by the UC Davis nutrition department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Western Human Nutrition Research Center, based at UC Davis. "Many women get caught in cycles of dieting during which they lose weight initially, only to regain it and then feel bad about themselves," said Linda Bacon, a UC Davis nutrition graduate student. Bacon is coordinating the Healthy Living Project along with UC Davis nutrition professor Judith Stern, and Nancy Keim and Marta Van Loan of the USDA, all experts in the field of weight management. The Healthy Living Project is not intended to be a quick fix for weight issues, Bacon stressed. Instead, women will be supported in gradually developing lifestyle changes, including healthier and more enjoyable eating and activity habits, new ways of considering and appreciating their bodies, increased social support, and other methods for improving their overall health, well-being and self-image. The program, designed by national experts in metabolism, nutrition, exercise and psychology, will incorporate the latest research findings. The researchers will observe and record many health-related variables in the participants. "We anticipate that participants in the Healthy Living Project will experience improved psychological well-being, including higher self-esteem and reduced depression," Stern said. "We also expect these women to show improved physiological function as reflected by blood pressure, blood-sugar, cholesterol and other markers of metabolic and physical fitness. And we hope that they'll have fun in the process of making these changes." The researchers are recruiting nonsmoking Caucasian women between the ages of 30 and 45 years, whose clothing size is at least 16. Anyone interested in signing up for the program or obtaining more information may call (530) 752-5177 or e-mail hlp@nutrition.ucdavis.edu. There is no charge for participation in the program, and volunteers will receive a stipend for health testing. Media contacts: -- Linda Bacon, Nutrition, (415) 469-7441 or (530) 752-6575, lbacon@ucdavis.edu -- Judith Stern, Nutrition, (530) 752-6575, jsstern@ucdavis.edu -- Patricia Bailey, News Service, (530) 752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu